Jammu and Kashmir encounter: 7 soldiers injured in Kishtwar gunfight; three airlifted as Operation Trashi-1 continues in Sonar forests

What happened: A fierce gunfight between security forces and militants in Kishtwar’s Sonar region left 7 soldiers injured.

• Why it matters now: The encounter triggered a high-level search-and-neutralise mission, with Operation Trashi-1 now underway in the upper forest belt.

• What changes for people: Locals around the forests have been asked to stay indoors as movement restrictions and combing operations intensify.

• Who is affected: Army personnel, residents of Sonar and nearby villages, and security agencies tracking militant movement in the region.

A major encounter unfolded on Sunday afternoon in Kishtwar, where militants opened fire on security forces during a search operation in the dense Sonar forest area. Officials confirmed that 7 soldiers sustained injuries during the exchange of gunfire.

Three soldiers airlifted for treatment

According to senior security officials, three of the injured personnel were immediately airlifted to a specialised military hospital for advanced medical care. The remaining injured soldiers are being treated at a local facility.

The terrain, marked by steep slopes and thick vegetation, has made the operation more complex, prompting reinforcement teams to join the effort.

Operation Trashi-1 underway

The Army has launched Operation Trashi-1, a large-scale combing and tracking mission aimed at locating the militants believed to be hiding in the upper forest zones. Intermittent firing was reported as forces closed in on suspected hideouts.

Security agencies suspect the presence of multiple militants, though their affiliation has not yet been confirmed.

High alert in surrounding villages

Authorities have issued advisory messages to residents in Sonar and adjoining areas, urging them to avoid forest routes and stay indoors until the situation stabilises. Additional checkpoints have been set up along approach roads.