Overview
- Security forces conducted a joint cordon-and-search in Parhetar, Billawar, based on specific inputs and killed a foreign militant in a brief exchange.
- Police identified the militant as JeM commander Usman, also known as Abu Maviya, long active across the Udhampur–Kathua belt after infiltrating about two years ago.
- A US-made M4 rifle and other arms and ammunition were recovered, and follow-up searches around the encounter site are underway.
- Separately, Operation Trashi-I continues in Kishtwar’s Chatroo–Singhpora forests, with forces pursuing two to three suspected JeM terrorists using drones and sniffer dogs.
- The Kishtwar push follows an ambush that injured eight soldiers; Special Forces Havildar Gajendra Singh later died, and security checks across Jammu have been tightened ahead of Republic Day.