02 February,2026 12:01 PM IST | Srinagar | mid-day online correspondent
Representational image. File pic
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Monday carried out searches at multiple locations in the Srinagar, Bandipora and Baramulla districts of Jammu and Kashmir in connection with a terror case.
As reported by news agency PTI, the searches were being carried out in Rafiabad, Sopore, Bomai (in Baramulla district), the Bandipora area, and the Parimpora area of the city, the officials said.
Earlier in January, security forces in Jammu Kashmir's Kishtwar region extended a combing operation after a fresh gunfight in the snow-covered Chatroo area, involving two to three JeM-linked terrorists who escaped.
As reported by news agency PTI, this was the third encounter in a week.
The authorities, while asserting about the incident, said, "The encounter took place in the snow-bound Janseer-Kandiwar forest area of Chatroo around 10:20 pm on January 25 after one of the security search parties composed of Army and police observed the movement of terrorists, as reported by news agency PTI.
The officials' further briefing about the incident asserted that the gunfight between the two sides continued for quite some time, but the terrorists, believed to be two or three, managed their escape.
This was the third encounter in the Chatroo belt of the hilly district over the past week, amid a massive operation for holed-up terrorists linked to the Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) outfit.
Earlier on January 18, a fierce gunbattle in Sonnar village near Mandral-Singhpora left a paratrooper dead and seven other personnel injured.
Although the terrorists managed to escape, utilising thick vegetation and the challenging terrain, they were intercepted a few kilometres away from the site of the first encounter on January 22. However, success again eluded the forces, but they continued with their operation even as the area witnessed over two feet of snowfall on Friday.
The officials further said, "The officials said Army helicopters were seen hovering over the scene of the fresh encounter and adjoining areas to keep surveillance as various search parties were fanned out in different directions to track down and neutralise the terrorists."
"The area of operation was expanded to new areas along the Kishtwar-Sinthan road, and the army has also deployed unmanned aerial vehicles and drones besides the sniffer dog unit," they further added.
(With inputs from PTI)
