Rajouri, May 28, 2026 : Security forces on Thursday launched a fresh and intensified fire assault, including multiple grenade launcher (MGL) attacks, on suspected terrorist hideouts as the ongoing anti-terror operation ‘Op Sheruwali’ entered its sixth consecutive day in the dense forests of Jammu and Kashmir’s Rajouri district.
According to preliminary intelligence inputs, two to three Pakistani terrorists, including a commander-level operative, are believed to be hiding in the heavily forested Dorimal-Gambhir Moghla belt of the Manjakote area.
Officials said the latest offensive came a day after Northern Army Commander Lieutenant General Pratik Sharma visited the operation zone to review the progress of the anti-terror mission and assess the ground situation.
The fresh assault targeted specific suspected hideouts amid efforts by security agencies to tighten the cordon and eliminate the terrorists believed to be trapped inside the dense forest region. Heavy firing and MGL attacks triggered large plumes of smoke rising from the targeted areas, indicating successful strikes on the suspected locations.
Security forces have been closely tracking the movement of the terrorists after blood stains, believed to have been left behind by injured militants fleeing the area, were detected earlier this week. Officials stated that the trail has played a crucial role in narrowing down the search zone.
On Monday, security forces had busted a terrorist hideout following a brief exchange of fire while intensifying the cordon around the suspected area where the blood traces were found.
The anti-terror operation is being carried out jointly by the Indian Army, Jammu and Kashmir Police and paramilitary forces, with extensive aerial and ground surveillance support. Helicopters, drones and sniffer dogs have been deployed to scan the rugged and heavily forested terrain.
Officials confirmed that the operation zone has been further fortified with additional troop deployment, while security checks on roads leading to the area have also been intensified to prevent any possible escape or external assistance to the terrorists.
More reinforcements have been rushed to the Dori Maal forests in the Gambhir Moghla region, where continuous search operations are underway.
The encounter initially broke out on Saturday after security forces launched a massive cordon-and-search operation based on intelligence inputs regarding the movement of terrorists in the Singhpora-Chatroo area. Contact was established with the terrorists during the operation, resulting in a brief exchange of fire.
Since then, security forces have maintained relentless pressure on the hiding terrorists, continuing extensive search and combat operations in one of the region’s most difficult and densely forested terrains.
