Security forces in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kishtwar district have extended their ongoing combing operation following a fresh gunfight on Sunday night, January 25, 2026. The encounter took place around 10:20 pm in the snow-covered Janseer-Kandiwar forest area of Chatroo. Army and police search teams spotted terrorists moving and engaged with them. Officials say the firefight lasted some time, but the two or three terrorists managed to escape. This marks the third encounter in the Chatroo area this week amid a large crackdown on militants linked to the Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) group. Earlier on January 18, a gun battle in Sonnar village left a paratrooper dead and seven security personnel injured. Though the terrorists escaped using thick vegetation and difficult terrain, forces caught up with them again on January 22. The militants evaded capture once more. Despite over two feet of snowfall hitting the region on January 22, security forces have kept up their efforts. On Monday, Army helicopters hovered over the fresh encounter site and nearby areas to keep watch. Multiple search teams spread out in various directions to chase and neutralize the terrorists. The operation area has widened to include regions along the Kishtwar-Sinthan Road. The Army is using unmanned aerial vehicles, drones, and sniffer dogs in the effort. Officials remain determined to flush out the militants hiding in these snowbound mountain forests.