Representative image (PTI Photo)

JAMMU: A gun battle broke out between security forces and terrorists in the forests in the upper reaches of Billawar, in J&K’s Kathua district, on Wednesday, where a group of two-three ultras was suspected to be hiding. Around 4pm that evening, locals had reported spotting a terror suspect in Kamad Nallah area.“On being alerted, a joint team of security forces, including SOG Kathua and CRPF personnel, rushed to the area and launched a massive search operation. Holed-up terrorists opened fire at the search party, triggering an encounter. As the firefight erupted, the ultras ran into the forest,” an official said.IGP (Jammu Zone) Bhim Sen Tuti, in an X post, stated that the troops were relentlessly engaging the terrorists despite “darkness, thick vegetation and treacherous terrain”. Officials said the area had been cordoned off. The operation remained in progress till late Wednesday.Earlier this month, a village defence guard (VDG) fired warning shots in the air on Jan 2, upon observing suspicious movement near his house in Dessa village, Doda district, following which security forces launched an anti-terror operation in the area. On Dec 31, 2025, a similar operation was carried out in Dali village in Rajouri district’s Kalakote area based on a VDG’s report about suspicious movement.A string of counter-terror operations has been underway in the upper reaches of Doda, Kishtwar and Ramban districts in Chenab region, and the border areas along Udhampur and Kathua districts, to track and kill ultras on the move. Such operations were also continuing in the two frontier districts of Rajouri and Poonch, and Reasi district, which shares a border with Rajouri-Ramban in Jammu division and Kulgam in south Kashmir.