| 326-day manhunt ends: Saifullah, Adil among 7 terrorists neutralised in Kishtwar | | |  Atul Sharma
Early Times Report
Jammu, Feb 23: Seven terrorists belonging to the proscribed outfit Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM), including self-styled commander Saifullah, were eliminated during a 326-day-long high-altitude joint operation in the Chatroo area of Kishtwar district in Jammu and Kashmir.
The Jammu-based White Knight Corps of the Indian Army, in coordination with the Jammu and Kashmir Police and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), carried out the mission, codenamed “Operation Gallant Perseverance,” in the higher reaches of the mountainous district.
Announcing the culmination of the 11-month-long operation, the White Knight Corps said the forces undertook relentless and painstaking efforts in extremely challenging terrain and harsh weather conditions. Operating on the basis of a robust intelligence grid established by civil and military intelligence agencies, security forces tracked the militants across cold, wet, and freezing mountainous terrain. The operation witnessed multiple encounters before all seven terrorists were finally neutralised.
The Army said advanced technology was extensively used throughout the operation, including FPV drones, satellite imagery, remotely piloted aircraft (RPAs)/UAVs, and modern communication systems to enhance surveillance and operational precision.
According to the Army, the elimination of Saifullah and his associates has dealt a significant blow to the terror network operating in the region. The success of the mission, it said, reflects the determination, courage, and professionalism of the armed forces and intelligence agencies.
Security forces confirmed that Saifullah, a top JeM commander active in the districts of Doda, Kishtwar, Kathua, and Udhampur for over four years, was among the three terrorists killed in Sunday’s encounter. He had previously managed to escape from multiple encounters in the Wanipora and Passarkut areas of Chatroo.
The recovery of an M4 carbine and an AK-47 rifle from the encounter site further underscored his involvement in earlier attacks. Officials said the M4 carbine had reportedly been snatched by Saifullah during a previous encounter in Doda last year. Such weapons are believed to have been supplied to terrorist commanders by the Pakistan Army.
The Chatroo forest belt has witnessed nearly half a dozen gunfights since January 18 this year. These encounters resulted in the martyrdom of one soldier and the killing of a Pakistani terrorist. While the soldier lost his life on January 18, the foreign militant was eliminated on February 4. |
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