Srinagar, March 28, 2025 – Jammu and Kashmir has been placed on high alert following a deadly encounter in Kathua district on Thursday, where three police personnel were killed in action and two terrorists were gunned down. The fierce gunbattle, which erupted in the forested Juthana area, has heightened tensions across the region, with sources now warning of a potential war-like situation looming in Kashmir as early as April.
According to reports from NDTV, the encounter began early Thursday when security forces, including teams from the Army, National Security Guard (NSG), Border Security Force (BSF), Police, Special Operations Group (SOG), and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), closed in on a group of heavily armed terrorists hiding deep within the forests of Kathua. The operation, now in its fifth day, had been ongoing following intelligence inputs and a prior exchange of fire on Sunday. Sources confirmed that two terrorists were neutralized during the clash, while three to four others remain holed up, continuing to pose a threat.
The fallen police personnel included a head constable and two constables, while five others, including a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), sustained injuries and are receiving treatment. The intensity of the firefight, marked by close-quarters combat, underscored the challenges faced by security forces in the rugged terrain. “So far, we have not retrieved the bodies of the fallen cops due to adverse terrain and the presence of more terrorists there,” an official told NDTV, highlighting the ongoing danger.
Nalin Prabhat, Director General of Jammu and Kashmir Police, is personally overseeing the operation. He confirmed the elimination of two terrorists and expressed confidence that the remaining militants would be neutralized soon. The terrorists, believed to be equipped with advanced weaponry including US-made M4 rifles, had earlier evaded capture after a gunfight in the Sanyal forests, only to be cornered again in Juthana on Thursday morning. The operation has been bolstered by the use of helicopters, drones, bulletproof vehicles, and sniffer dogs, reflecting the scale of the response.
In the wake of this incident, security measures across Kashmir have been significantly tightened. Authorities have ramped up surveillance and deployed additional forces to prevent further escalation. Sources within the security establishment have raised concerns about a potential surge in militant activity, with one official stating, “The situation could spiral into a war-like scenario by April if the current trend of infiltration and attacks continues unchecked.” This warning comes amid reports of increased terrorist movements along the border, allegedly supported by external forces.
The Kathua encounter follows a pattern of heightened violence in the region, with security forces recovering substantial caches of arms and ammunition in recent operations. On Monday, search teams found four loaded M4 carbine magazines, grenades, a bulletproof jacket, and materials for improvised explosive devices (IEDs), signaling the militants’ preparedness for sustained conflict. The involvement of Pakistan-based groups like Jaish-e-Mohammad has also been suspected, further complicating the security landscape.
Local residents and officials alike are bracing for turbulent times ahead. The government has urged calm while emphasizing its commitment to rooting out terrorism. However, the loss of three police personnel has cast a somber shadow over the region, with tributes pouring in for their bravery. As the operation in Kathua continues, all eyes are on Kashmir, where the coming weeks could prove critical in determining the trajectory of peace and stability.