J and K : Codenamed Operation Sheruwali, is one of the largest anti-terror drives in recent years in the Pir Panjal region and it has entered its eighth day today. A joint force consisting the Indian Army (including the counter-insurgency Romeo Force and White Knight Corps), the Jammu and Kashmir Police, the Special Operations Group (SOG), and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF). Security forces have formed a tight, multi-layered security grid over a vast, adjoining forest belt stretching from the Ghambir Mughlan and Dorimal forests in Rajouri to the Surankote forests in Poonch. Arayna Women’s Cotton Printed Kurta Set with Pants & Dupatta | Elegant Ethnic Wear for Women | Floral Print | Comfortable Suit Set
Due to the extremely dense forest canopy and rugged, hilly terrain, security forces are relying heavily on drones, sniffer dogs, and helicopters to spot hidden hideouts, track movement, and map escape routes.
Officials claim there are 2 to 5 highly trained Pakistani militants operating in this sector. They are split into two groups, one in Rajouri and one in Surankote. Intelligence reports indicate they are highly conditioned at jungle warfare, consistently shifting their hideouts to avoid contact. They recently moved to lower altitudes of the Pir Panjal range to escape persistent high-altitude sweep operations.
The targeted zone lies tightly enclosed between two strategic roads: National Highway 144-A (Rajouri-BG-Surankote) and the Rajouri-Thanamandi-DKG-Buffliaz road. Because these attached forests span across both Rajouri and Poonch and offer easy access routes into the Kashmir Valley, militants historically and repeatedly have used them to slip away into an adjacent district whenever a heavy operation is launched against them. The legacy of INS Gomati lives on! The new 2-acre, ₹19-crore Nausena Shaurya Vatika bridges Lucknow to India’s maritime heritage
Initial contact was established with the group on May 22, resulting in a brief exchange of fire where bloodstains were found, indicating at least one militant was wounded. Troops have used heavy fire assaults and multiple grenade launchers to flush them out and neutralize potential ambush spots, which explains the vast plumes of smoke seen rising from the woodlands during the operation. NIA steps up the hunt for Pakistani handler Shahzad Bhatti over rising cross-border terror links
The Pir Panjal region (Rajouri and Poonch) has seen a resurrection of tactical, ambush-style militant activities over the last few years. This specific group have been operating or hiding in the local logistics network for the last two to three years. The area previously witnessed major attacks, such as the Bhimber Gali and Kesari Hill ambushes, which resulted in the loss of elite para-commandos and soldiers. Operation Sheruwali aims to permanently dismantle this specific pocket of jungle operations.