Kishtwar, Feb 22: A high-ranking commander of the Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) outfit was killed during a fierce gunfight with security forces in the Chatroo area of Kishtwar district on Sunday. The encounter involved a joint team comprising the Jammu and Kashmir Police, the Army’s 2 Para, and additional military units in the rugged Passerkut forest range.
Official sources stated that the commander fell during a heavy exchange of fire after the joint forces narrowed their search to a specific terrorist hideout. While the death of the senior JeM leader has been confirmed by field reports, authorities noted that the body of the slain individual has not yet been retrieved from the site of the clash. Official confirmation regarding the identity and specific rank of the deceased is expected once the area is fully sanitized.
The White Knight Corps of the Indian Army affirmed the ongoing nature of the engagement through a public statement, noting that contact was established early in the day. “Troops of White Knight Corps, along with the Jammu and Kashmir Police and CRPF, established contact with terrorists in the general area of Passerkut,” the statement declared. The military maintained that the firefight is ongoing and that a tight cordon remains in place to prevent any remnants of the group from escaping.
Security personnel have scaled up their presence in the sector as the operation continues into the afternoon. A senior official asserted that the elimination of such a high-profile figure marks a significant shift in the local security dynamic. The tactical teams are proceeding with caution due to the difficult terrain, ensuring all safety protocols are followed as they move toward the final stages of the mission.
