A fierce gunfight erupted on Sunday between security forces and terrorists in the Khankoo forest area of Kishtwar district in Jammu and Kashmir. The encounter began during a joint Cordon and Search Operation (CASO) launched by the Army and police, acting on specific intelligence about terrorist presence in the region situated between Dachhan and Nagseni.
As the security forces approached the suspected hideout, terrorists opened fire, leading to a brief exchange of gunfire. Additional reinforcements have been dispatched, and the area remains under an active search operation.
The Indian Army&rsquo;s White Knight Corps confirmed via X that contact has been established with the terrorists in the Hadal Gal area of the Kishtwar sector and that the operation is ongoing.
This intensified military action is part of broader anti-terror efforts in the Union Territory. Security forces have stepped up operations against terrorists, their Over Ground Workers (OGWs), and sympathizers to dismantle the terror support system.
The aggressive crackdown gained momentum following the April 22 terror attack by Pakistan-backed Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists in the Baisaran meadow of Pahalgam, which claimed 26 lives, including 25 tourists and one local.
In response to the national outrage, Prime Minister Narendra Modi authorized a forceful military retaliation. The Indian armed forces launched Operation Sindoor, targeting and destroying terror infrastructure deep inside Pakistan, including locations in Muridke near Lahore, Bahawalpur, Kotli, and Muzaffarabad in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).
Nine terror facilities were neutralized, and further strikes dismantled key Pakistan army infrastructure involved in supporting terrorism. The situation in Kishtwar remains tense as search operations continue. [Except for the headline, this article has not been edited by the Benefit News editorial team and is published directly from the IANS news feed]

Gunfight Erupts in J&K’s Kishtwar Forest Region

Security forces engage terrorists in ongoing encounter near Khankoo forest in Kishtwar

Gunfight Erupts in J&K’s Kishtwar Forest Region

Security forces engage terrorists in ongoing encounter near Khankoo forest in Kishtwar

July 20, 2025 | 20:24 IST