JeM Terrorist Gunned Down by Security Forces in Jammu &Kashmir’s Kathua
Officials identified the slain militant as Usman, a Pakistani national and a commander within the JeM ranks
Srinagar: A Pakistani militant affiliated with the Jaish e Muhammed (JeM) outfit was killed on Friday in a “swift and precisely executed” joint operation by security forces in the Billawar area of Jammu and Kashmir’s Kathua district, officials said.
They said that the encounter unfolded even as the frontier district with neighbouring areas reeled under heavy snowfall, rain, and strong windstorms, “underscoring the continued vigilance of security agencies operating in difficult terrain and challenging weather conditions to counter cross border terrorism threats.”
Inspector General of Police (IGP) Jammu, Bhim Sen Tuti, said that a small, highly coordinated team from the J&K Police, acting on specific intelligence inputs, engaged and neutralised the militant with support from the Indian Army and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF). In a post on ‘X’, the IGP stated that “a Pakistani Jaish terrorist has been neutralised by a small JKP team in a joint operation with the Army and CRPF in the general area of Billawar, Kathua district,” highlighting the effectiveness and synergy of the forces involved.
Officials identified the slain militant as Usman, a Pakistani national and a commander within the JeM ranks. A substantial cache of arms and ammunition—including an M4 automatic rifle and other weaponry—was recovered from the site. Security agencies believe the militant was planning attacks in the Jammu region, and his elimination marks a significant setback for JeM’s efforts “to revive its operations in the Jammu division through infiltrated foreign terrorists.”
The operation took place in the forested, hilly stretches of Billawar, an area that borders Pakistan and has witnessed sporadic militant movement in recent years. “Acting on credible intelligence, security forces launched the operation to intercept the terrorist, who was believed to be hiding in the area and posed a potential threat to civilians and key installations ahead of Republic Day. No casualties were reported among the security personnel, reflecting the precision and tactical efficiency of the J&K Police led team supported by Army and CRPF units,” an official said.
