Police have arrested six people for helping militants involved in the Kathua encounter, where four policemen were killed. These individuals allegedly provided food, shelter and other support to the militants.
The gunfight took place on March 29 in Juthana, under Rajbagh Police Station’s jurisdiction. Security forces engaged a group of infiltrators, killing two militants, while three others escaped.
Based on intelligence inputs, police uncovered a local network that helped the militants after they crossed over from Pakistan.
The arrested individuals belong to a family with past links to terrorism. The head of the family, Mohammad Latif from Badalata, Kathua, was already in jail for assisting terrorists in their movements and attacks. Now, his two sons, three daughters and wife have also been taken into custody for allegedly helping the militants move from Hiranagar to Juthana and sheltering them.
Investigations revealed that this family had long-standing ties with Pakistani terrorist handlers. Around 15 years ago, their house sheltered Abu Talha, a notorious Pakistani militant later killed by security forces in an operation led by DySP Shaili Singh in Bhaderwah.
The militants involved in the Kathua encounter also took refuge in this house before launching their attack on security personnel. Reports suggest that the three militants later forced entry into a civilian’s home, took food, and attempted to flee. Their current location remains unknown.
Security forces have launched massive search operations in Juthana and nearby areas. Personnel from Jammu and Kashmir Police, Special Operations Group (SOG), Kathua Police, Border Police, and the Indian Army’s Para Commandos are involved in the operation.
Police suspect that more militants could be hiding in the region. Intelligence reports indicate that at least 20 infiltrators are moving in small groups across the forests of Kathua, Billawar, Malhar, and Bani. These militants are believed to have been behind the earlier attacks, including the July 9 ambush on an army convoy in Badalata.
The latest arrests highlight the danger posed by overground workers who help militants with shelter and logistics. Officials have vowed to crack down on these networks to prevent future attacks and strengthen security in the region.
