SRINAGAR: Indian forces have intensified massive search and cordon operations in Kishtwar district of Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir, deploying drones, sniffer dogs and helicopters, after the sixth armed encounter erupted in the district within the last few months.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the latest encounter broke out early Saturday when Indian army troops claimed “re-establishing” contact with mujahideen during an ongoing search operation in the snowbound, high-altitude area of Dolgam in Kishtwar.
Officials said a brief exchange of fire took place after which the operation was narrowed down to a specific location, with additional reinforcements rushed to the area.
The operation, code-named Operation Trashi-I, is being jointly conducted by the Indian army’s White Knight Corps, Police and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF). Following the contact, the entire belt was placed under a tight cordon as aerial surveillance and ground tracking were intensified to prevent any escape.
Kishtwar has increasingly turned into a major focus of Indian operations, with at least six encounters reported in the district over the past seven months. The surge in the military operations has raised serious concerns among local residents, who complain of constant fear, prolonged lockdown-like conditions, and routine harassment during cordon-and-search operations.
Meanwhile, large contingents of forces continue to dominate Kishtwar and adjoining areas, with night raids, checkpoints and restrictions further adding to the hardships of the civilian population as the operation remains underway at the time of filing this report.
In related incident, grief and heartbreak gripped a village in Kishtwar as the tragic story of Jana Begum, a mother whose last wish was to see her son return home, came to light.
According to Kashmir Media Service, Jana Begum’s son, Riaz Ahmed, fed up with constant raids and harassment, had left the family home and remained in hiding, unaware of his mother’s deteriorating health.
For years, Jana Begum pleaded with her son to return. Her husband, Mohammad Ramzan, joined her appeals, but all went unheeded.
Three days ago, as mourners gathered to lay Jana Begum to rest, her son remained absent, unaware that she had passed away. The coffin was lowered without the presence of the very child she had longed to see, leaving her final wish unfulfilled.
