In a major triumph for counter-terrorism efforts, security forces in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) neutralized a Pakistani terrorist affiliated with the Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) in Kathua district on Friday, January 23, 2026. The eliminated terrorist, identified as JeM commander Usman alias 'Abu Maviya', had a history of evading security forces, having dodged them nearly 20 times in the past.
The operation, a joint effort by the Jammu and Kashmir Police (JKP), the Indian Army, and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), took place in the general area of Billawar town. Inspector General of Police (IGP) Jammu range, Bhim Sen Tuti, confirmed the successful operation in a post on X, highlighting the coordinated efforts of the security forces. The Army's Rising Star Corps also acknowledged the joint operation and the elimination of the foreign terrorist.
According to officials, the operation was launched based on specific intelligence inputs, leading the joint search party to raid a house in a remote village in the Parhetar area. The terrorist, who was hiding, opened fire on the search parties, prompting a swift retaliation that resulted in his death in close combat. The encounter was brief but decisive, marking a significant blow to the JeM's operations in the region.
Usman was described as one of the most-wanted JeM terrorists, active in the Udhampur-Kathua belt for the past couple of years after infiltrating into India. His ability to repeatedly escape encounters with security forces made him a high-value target. Prior to his elimination, he had escaped encounters on January 7 and 13 in the Kahog and Najote forests, respectively.
Following the encounter, a large cache of arms and ammunition was recovered from the site, including an M4 automatic rifle. This recovery underscores the JeM's intent to carry out significant attacks in the region and the importance of preventing such acts of terror. Search operations in the area are continuing.
In related counter-terrorism activity, three Pakistani JeM terrorists were killed in separate encounters in the Udhampur and Kishtwar districts of Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday, February 5, 2026. Two of the terrorists were killed in Udhampur in a drone-based operation. The ongoing anti-terror operation in the Chatroo-Dolgam-Dichhar belt in Kishtwar, named "Operation Trashi-I," has been underway for several days.
The elimination of Usman and other JeM terrorists highlights the ongoing efforts by Indian security forces to combat terrorism in the region. JeM has been responsible for numerous attacks in India, including the 2001 attack on the Jammu and Kashmir legislative assembly, the 2001 Indian Parliament attack, the 2016 Pathankot airbase attack, the 2016 Uri attack, and the 2019 Pulwama attack. The group is designated as a terrorist organization by several countries, including India, Pakistan, Russia, Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States.