Jammu, May 23 (IANS) An encounter started on Saturday between terrorists and the security forces in Jammu and Kashmir’s Rajouri district.

Officials said on Saturday that an encounter had started between terrorists and security forces in Dorimal forests of Rajouri in Jammu and Kashmir.

“At least 2-3 Pakistani terrorists are believed to be trapped, operation is underway”, officials said

Following specific Intelligence inputs about the presence of terrorists in Dorimal forest area of Rajouri, security forces started a cordon and search operation.

“As the security forces closed in on the hiding terrorists, they opened fire, after which an encounter started which is now going on.

“Reinforcements have been rushed in to plug all exit points of the hiding terrorists”, an official said.

The two border districts of Rajouri and Poonch have witnessed a significant surge in counter-terror operations and encounters since the area has served as the primary infiltration and revival corridor for terrorists in the past.

Security forces have launched extensive, multi-agency combing and search operations to track down armed groups hiding in the dense, mountainous terrain.

In May 2026, a massive, multi-area search operation was started at over 15 locations across the Poonch and Rajouri districts.

These searches followed a foiled infiltration bid in the Mankote and Krishna Ghati sectors along the Line of Control (LoC), where an infiltrator was killed by security forces.

In March 2026, joint forces launched multiple combing operations in the Khandli and Palma areas of Rajouri, as well as areas of Poonch, following the reported movement of suspected terrorists.

During 2025, encounters broke out in the Bananthab and Piranhal areas of Rajouri as security forces intensified efforts to corner infiltrating groups.

A major operation in the Bajimaal forest area of Rajouri successfully eliminated highly trained terrorists operating in the region.

In September 2023, joint forces carried out a heavy, multi-day firefight in the Rajouri sector. The operation resulted in the killing of two heavily-armed terrorists after intense combing operations in challenging terrain.

In April–May 2023, these two districts experienced deadly terrorist ambushes and encounters. An attack on an Army vehicle in the Poonch sector, followed by an encounter in the Kandi forest area of Rajouri, resulted in casualties to Army personnel and triggered a massive regional manhunt, designated ‘Operation Trinetra’.

In 2021-2022, a prolonged series of search operations and ambushes occurred throughout the twin districts, most notably in the dense forests of Mendhar and Surankote.

–IANS

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