In Jammu and Kashmir’s Kathua district, a fierce encounter on Thursday resulted in the deaths of three policemen and two militants.

Though officials have yet to issue a formal statement, sources revealed that among the fallen officers were two personal security officers (PSOs) assigned to the Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Border.

The operation began after a local couple, collecting firewood in Saniyal village near the International Border, spotted nearly half a dozen armed militants on Sunday evening. Security agencies suspect the group recently infiltrated from Pakistan.

Over the past five days, security forces, under the leadership of J&K Director General of Police Nalin Prabhat, have conducted extensive combing and search operations in the Hiranagar sector. Seven individuals have been taken into custody for allegedly aiding the militants, with six identified as Shakeel, Feroz, Ali, Fareed, Rafaqat, and Bashir—some of whom were previously questioned in 2024 for similar activities.

By Tuesday, security forces had expanded their search operations toward both the International Border, located five kilometers from Saniyal village, and the Jammu-Pathankote national highway. The encounter site, nearly 30 kilometers from where the militants were first spotted, indicates that they may have been moving toward Udhampur or Doda via Kathua’s Ghati area.

During the search, authorities recovered two grenades and empty M4 ammunition shells from the forest. On Monday, several M4 carbine magazines, a bulletproof jacket, and additional supplies were found abandoned by the fleeing militants.

Officials note that the operation is taking time due to the militants’ strategic use of dense forest terrain for cover.