Kishtwar, J&K: An Agniveer, identified as Kapil Kumar of 11 RR, sustained injuries during a gunfight that erupted between security forces and a group of terrorists in the Kalaban forests of Chhatroo area in Jammu and Kashmir's Kishtwar district on Wednesday. The injured soldier, a 22-year-old paratrooper and resident of Uttar Pradesh, has been shifted to Command Hospital Udhampur, and his condition is currently stable.

The encounter began when the army and Jammu and Kashmir Police (JKP) launched a joint search operation in the area following intelligence inputs. During the operation, security forces made contact with the terrorists, leading to an exchange of fire in which the Agniveer was wounded.

Authorities believe that two to three terrorists are trapped in the area, which has been cordoned off and reinforced. As of late evening Wednesday, there was no fresh contact between the security forces and the terrorists; however, the operation is ongoing.

The Indian Army's White Knight Corps confirmed the incident, stating, "In an intelligence-based operation, in concert with the JKP, in early morning hours today, alert troops of White Knight Corps have established contact with terrorists in the general area of Chhatru. Fire exchanged with terrorists. Operation is in progress".

The area has witnessed heightened militant activity in the past year. In April 2025, three terrorists were neutralized in Chhatroo. On September 21, 2025, another encounter occurred in the Keshwan forest area of Kishtwar, but the terrorists managed to escape after an initial exchange of fire with security forces. In another encounter in Kishtwar in the past 24 hours, one army jawan was injured.

In May 2025, one soldier was killed in a major anti-terror operation by security forces against a group of terrorists hiding in the Chenab Valley's Kishtwar district. Security forces launched Operation Trashi on Thursday morning and established contact with terrorists during a joint operation with the J&K police at Kishtwar's Chhatru. Officials reported a heavy exchange of bullets between security forces and the hiding terrorists.

In April 2025, during anti-terror operations in Kishtwar, one Jaish terrorist was killed, and two other terrorists were injured. The Jaish commander Saifullah was also killed in the encounter.