A search operation was underway on Thursday (July 3, 2025) to track down two to three terrorists hiding in a forested area of Jammu and Kashmir's Kishtwar district, officials said.

The cordon and search operation follows an encounter that broke out between terrorists and security forces in the heavily forested Kanzal Mandu area of the Kuchal-Chatroo belt on Wednesday (July 2) night.

The operation is backed by drones and sniffer dogs, with the cordon further strengthened by additional reinforcements.

As per unconfirmed reports, one terrorist is believed to have been injured in the gunbattle, which continued this morning.

Joint operation by Army, CRPF and police
The encounter started when police, assisted by the Army and CRPF, launched a cordon and search operation in the Kuchal area of Chatroo around 7:45 pm on Wednesday (July 2) following information about the presence of terrorists, they said.

The officials said the terrorists opened fire on noticing the search parties, leading to a gunfight which was continuing when last reports came in.