‘Israel Group’ of JeM neutralised after 18-month operation in J&K: Officials

JAMMU, Feb 23: Inspector General of Police (Jammu Zone) Bhim Sen Tuti said on Monday that in a joint operation, security forces have neutralised a seven-member Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terror module, dubbed the “Israel Group”, bringing an end to a year-and-a-half-long operation in the Kishtwar belt of Jammu and Kashmir.
Three members of the module, including its self-styled commander, Saifullah, were killed in an encounter with the security forces in Kishtwar district on Sunday.
“The group of seven JeM terrorists had infiltrated into Indian territory in April 2024. Since then, this group was engaged on 17 different occasions. Over the last year and a half, we have successfully neutralised all of them. Sunday marked the culmination of this year-and-a-half-long operation,” the IGP told reporters at Kishtwar.
Describing the module as a “hardcore terrorist group”, he said, “The group was known as the Israel Group. It was a hardcore terrorist module that inflicted significant damage on security forces and also caused harm to civilians.” Tuti said acting on precise intelligence, the last three members of the group, including Saifullah, were neutralised in the Chatroo area of Kishtwar.
The IGP asserted that the campaign against terror would continue.
“This operation will continue. Our pursuit is long and in the coming time, we expect more successful operations. This fight will continue until the entire terror network is completely dismantled,” he said. Based on intelligence inputs from police, the Intelligence Bureau (IB) and other sources, a joint counter-terrorist operation, codenamed Operation Trashi-I, was launched on January 14 in the Chhatroo area by CIF Delta troops under the aegis of White Knight Corps. Contact with the terrorists was established on January 18 and their well-stocked hideout was busted, the GOC added.
Relentless pursuit led to the elimination of one terrorist, codenamed Adil, on February 4, he said.
The security forces re-engaged the remaining terrorists at around 11 am on February 22. The final encounter site, located on steep mountain slopes, was cordoned off on the intervening night of February 21 and 22. In the ensuing operation, the three hardcore terrorists were eliminated, completing the dismantling of the group, the GOC said.He said the large-scale operation showcased high tactical precision, real-time drone surveillance, the use of night-vision equipment and swift mobilisation of reinforcements, including special forces. He added that despite harsh weather and challenging terrain, there was no casualty among the security personnel.
Major General Bal also made a special mention of Army-trained dog Tyson, who was injured after the terrorists opened fire. Tyson was deployed to verify the presence of the ultras inside the “dhok” (hut).“The injured elite German Shepherd, who was the first to charge at the terrorist hideout and sustained a bullet injury in the exchange of fire, was immediately airlifted for medical treatment and is reported to be safe and stable,” an official said.
During the search operations, war-like stores, including three AK-47 rifles, were seized.The operations were conducted on both extremes of the area of responsibility – one in the Udhampur sector and the other in the Kishtwar sector.
The IGP said action would be taken against those who supported the terrorists. (PTI)