A day after the elimination of dreaded Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) terrorist Adil, security forces have further intensified the ongoing Operation Trashi in the higher reaches of Kishtwar district, with the focus now firmly on neutralising the outfit's self-styled commander, Saifullah, who has been evading capture for the past several years.
Sources said Saifullah is believed to be trapped within the security forces' cordon in the rugged, forested terrain of upper Kishtwar, where Operation Trashi has been underway for nearly 20 days. The operation has involved sustained surveillance, ground searches, and coordinated action by multiple security agencies.
It is pertinent to mention here that during an encounter in April 2025, it was announced that Saifullah had been eliminated after a gun battle. However, it was later established that the dreaded JeM commander had managed to slip through the cordon and escape, thereby prolonging the manhunt.
Over the past three years, security forces have launched operations several times to hunt down Saifullah, but on each occasion, he managed to escape during encounters.
Self-styled JeM commander Saifullah is also a Pakistani national who infiltrated across the border some years ago. Since then, he has been operating in the Kathua, Udhampur, Kishtwar, and Doda regions. Saifullah has been involved in several attacks on security forces.
He is accused of masterminding and executing multiple deadly attacks targeting both civilians and security personnel. He has repeatedly managed to evade the security dragnet by exploiting difficult terrain and local support networks.
Officials believe he has been attempting to revive terror networks in the Jammu hinterland by brainwashing youngsters and luring them into gun culture.
Security forces have received inputs that Saifullah fled towards the northern side of Chhatroo following Adil's killing. At least three operations have been launched to nab Saifullah, who has been active in Kishtwar for quite some time.
Security officials revealed that he played a crucial role in coordinating infiltration attempts, facilitating the movement of terrorists to safe hideouts, planning attacks, and recruiting Over Ground Workers (OGWs) to sustain and expand the terror network in the region.
Meanwhile, JeM terrorist Adil was neutralised on Wednesday during a swift and precise operation. Active in the region for the past three years, Adil was carrying a bounty of ₹5 lakh on his head. Reports said he was a Pakistani national who had infiltrated across the border and was operating mainly in the Doda and Kishtwar districts.
Sources further disclosed that security forces had established contact with terrorists on January 18, 22, 24, and 31, but each time the ultras managed to escape. Acting on a specific and credible intelligence input, forces launched a fresh operation on Wednesday, mobilising within minutes. The brief but decisive encounter resulted in the killing of Adil, marking a significant breakthrough in Operation Trashi.
Security forces have maintained that the operation will continue until all terrorists hiding in the area are neutralised, and efforts are being intensified to track down Saifullah and dismantle the remaining terror infrastructure in the region.
