Exclusive Ground Zero Report on Blood Stains on Snow as Forces Intensify JeM Hunt in Kishtwar Forests on Day 2, two locations cordoned Fresh Contact in Chatroo Belt, 3rd encounter in a week Location: Kishtwar Anchor:Security forces continued their intensive anti-terror operation for the second consecutive day in two forested locations of Kishtwar district to track Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) terrorists, officials said. The joint operation is underway in the Janseer–Kandiwar forest area of Chingaam and Sonnar village near Mandral–Singhpora in the Chatroo subdivision of Kishtwar district. Officials said a fresh encounter broke out between security forces and terrorists in the Chatroo belt on the intervening night of Sunday and Monday, after which a massive cordon and search operation was launched. A joint team comprising 2nd Para (SF), Army, SOG and J&K Police is carrying out the operation to track the hiding terrorists. Despite a challenging situation in the wake of recent snowfall and Inclement weather conditions, the security forces on Tuesday extended the ongoing combing operation in the higher reaches of Jammu and Kashmir’s Kishtwar district following a fresh gunfight the on the intervening night of Sunday and Monday, officials said. Tight surveillance is being maintained with the help of helicopters, drones and sniffer dogs, while additional reinforcements have reached the area to strengthen the ongoing operation. This marks the third encounter in the Chatroo belt within a week, as security forces intensify efforts to neutralise three Pakistani terrorists affiliated with the Jaish-e-Mohammad outfit. It is pertinent to mention that the first encounter took place on January 18 at Sonnar village near Mandral–Singhpora, in which one paratrooper was martyred and six soldiers were injured. The terrorists, however, managed to escape by taking advantage of the dense forests and rugged terrain. A second encounter erupted again on January 22, a few kilometres from the earlier site, but the terrorists once again slipped away. Despite the area receiving over two feet of snowfall on January 23, security forces have continued operations in the high-altitude, snow-covered terrain. Amid harsh weather conditions, commandos of 2nd Para re-established contact with the terrorists in the Janseer–Kandiwar forest during the intervening night of Sunday and Monday, leading to heavy exchange of fire, including the use of heavy weapons such as rocket launchers, officials said. The search operation resumed again on Tuesday. Security forces have reportedly noticed blood stains on the snow, indicating that the terrorists may have been injured during the exchange of fire.The operation is continuing.