Indian Army on early Saturday (January 31, 2026) re-established contact with terrorists in the general area of Dolgam as part of Operation Trashi-I, launched around a fortnight back. The latest update came after it emerged that the security forces have intensified anti-terror operations in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kishtwar district.
With the intensified anti-terror operations, security forces aimed at stepping up pressure on a small but elusive group of Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) terrorists believed to be hiding in the snowbound Chatroo belt, officials said on Friday (January 30, 2026).
In a fresh update on Saturday morning, the Indian Army’s White Knight Corps shared that during the ongoing joint Operation Trashi-I, contact with terrorists was re-established by its troops, Jammu and Kashmir police, and CRPF. “Intelligence from all sources had been coordinated to provide inputs to execute the operation on ground,” it said on X.
Operation Trashi-I: Increased security push in Chatroo
Army’s White Knights Corps informed that a cordon has been established and operations are in progress. The renewed security push comes as part of a broader counter-terror posture in the Jammu region, shaped by recent encounters under the operation and fresh intelligence inputs pointing to militant movement across multiple forested axes.
According to officials, the ongoing operation aims to track down and neutralise three JeM terrorists who have repeatedly evaded capture by exploiting dense forests, steep terrain and heavy snowfall. To deny militants any tactical advantage, mobile internet services were also temporarily suspended within a 6-kilometre radius covering Singhpora, Chingam and Chatroo.
The Jammu and Kashmir Home Department extended the suspension of mobile internet services in the affected areas until 11:59 pm on January 30, citing operational security concerns.
What happened during Operation Trashi-I?
The current phase of operations traces back to January 18, when security forces launched Operation Trashi-I in the Sonnar forest near Mandral-Singhpora after specific intelligence inputs. The operation led to a fierce gunbattle, in which one jawan was killed while seven soldiers were injured.
Despite sustained contact, the terrorists managed to escape under cover of thick vegetation and rugged terrain, conditions further complicated by over two feet of snowfall.
How did the encounters unfold after that?
Security forces maintained pressure, leading to an encounter at Mali Dana top on January 22, 2026, followed by another contact at Janseer-Kandiwar on January 25, 2026.
In both cases, the terrorists once again slipped deeper into forested zones, prompting commanders to expand the search grid and tighten surveillance across adjoining high-altitude areas.
Apart from J&K’s Kishtwar, security forces have also launched a search operation in Poonch district, covering Pajja Morh, Nabana top, and adjoining areas of Surankote. This followed information about the presence of two suspected persons in the region.
Meanwhile, the intensified operations underline a shift in militant focus towards forested and mountainous belts of the Jammu region, prompting the Army and police to adopt prolonged, intelligence-driven search missions, even in extreme winter conditions.