Operation Trashi-I Day 14/sbkinews.in
Security forces re-established contact with a group of heavily armed terrorists in Jammu & Kashmir’s Dolgam area early Saturday, triggering fresh firefights on Day 14 of Operation Trashi-I as the cordon around the South Kashmir village tightened to prevent escapes amid ongoing searches for three top LeT commanders responsible for multiple high-profile attacks.
The encounter broke out around 5:45 AM after intelligence inputs indicated movement by the trapped militants—estimated at 4-5 including Saifullah Sajid and Abu Hamza—who have been holed up in orchards and forested upper reaches since January 18, forcing a renewed assault with drones, helicopters, and para-commandos while locals report heavy shelling and explosions lighting up the pre-dawn sky.
As Operation Trashi-I enters its critical phase, the Army’s Rashtriya Rifles, CRPF, and J&K Police maintain a multi-layer security ring spanning 8 sq km, with reinforcements airlifted from Srinagar signaling determination to end the prolonged standoff that has already neutralized two terrorists and injured four soldiers.
This renewed contact marks the operation’s most intense phase yet, testing counter-terror grids post-Article 370.
Operation Trashi-I Timeline: Day 14 Renewed Contact
Launch Context (Jan 18): Specific intelligence pinpointed LeT module in Dolgam forests following January 12 Kulgam ambush killing five soldiers. Initial contact established 6 AM Day 1—two terrorists killed, but trio escaped into rugged terrain.
Day 14 Developments (Jan 31):
| Time | Event Sequence |
|---|---|
| 05:45 AM | Movement detected; contact re-established |
| 06:15 | Heavy automatic fire, UBGLs exchanged |
| 07:30 | Drone strikes confirm 2 terrorists hit |
| 09:00 | Para SF teams comb bunkers |
| 11:00 | Operation continues; no claims yet |
Casualties: Army—4 injured (2 critical); Terrorists—2 confirmed dead (Day 3), 2-3 trapped.
Terrorist Profiles: LeT’s Top South Kashmir Commanders
Primary Targets:
| Name/Alias | Role | Attacks Linked |
|---|---|---|
| Saifullah Sajid | Operations Chief | Jan 12 Kulgam |
| Abu Hamza | Explosives Expert | 2025 Shopian blast |
| Umar Bashir | Local Commander | 3 soldier kills |
Weapons cache: M4s, AKs, grenades, IEDs. Pakistani origin confirmed via markings.
Operation Trashi-I Day 14/sbkinews.in
Dolgam Terrain: Counter-Terror Nightmare
Geography Challenge:
8 sq km operational area: Orchards, pine forests, streams.
Upper reaches: Caves, snow patches (2,100m elevation).
Winter fog: Visibility <200m pre-dawn.
SF Advantage: Heron drones (thermal), Apache choppers on standby, 200+ troops 3-layer cordon.
Day 14 Tactics: Renewed Multi-Domain Assault
Contact Re-Establishment:
Tech Trigger: SIGINT intercepts militant chatter 04:30 AM.
Cordon Tightening: Night vision teams close 500m gap.
Opening Salvo: Terrorists fire RPGs; forces respond with 51mm mortars.
Current Phase: Cordon-combing; drone loitering munitions deployed.
Operation Trashi-I Day 14/sbkinews.in
Local Impact: Dolgam Village Under Siege
Civilian Status: 2,500 evacuated Day 1; 100 elderly remain bunkered.
Infrastructure: School shut, mobile tower jammed, power intermittent.
Community: Mixed—fear of collateral vs relief at terror cleanse.
Broader Security Context: South Kashmir Terror Grid
Post-370 Trends:
| Year | Active Militants | Encounters |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 75 | 112 |
| 2024 | 52 | 98 |
| 2025 | 38 | 145 |
Operation Trashi-I targets 20% remaining LeT cadre.
Operation Trashi-I Day 14/sbkinews.in
Army’s Para SF Backbone: Elite Hunters Deployed
25 Para SF Platoon: Night combat specialists airlifted Day 5.
Tactics: Sniper overwatch, micro-drones for bunker detection.
Record: 90% success rate in prolonged ops.
Intelligence Backbone: Multi-Agency Fusion
Sources:
Human intel: Local collaborators turned.
Tech: IMSI catchers, satellite overwatch.
Cyber: LeT Pakistan handler chatter decoded.
Casualty Update: Forces Vs Terror Balance
Op Trashi-I Tally:
Terrorists: 2 killed, 3 trapped (80% neutralized).
SF: 4 injured, 0 fatalities.
Civilians: Zero collateral confirmed.
Operation Trashi-I Day 14/sbkinews.in
Political Backdrop: J&K Security Narrative
Centre’s Stance: Amit Shah: “Zero tolerance post-370.” Operation showcases control.
Omar Abdullah: “Success welcome but civilian distress concerning.”
Weaponry Showcase: Modern Counter-Terror Arsenal
Force Multipliers:
| Equipment | Role |
|---|---|
| Heron MkII | Thermal surveillance |
| Akashteer | Drone defense |
| Pinaka MBRL | Bunker saturation |
Tech edge overwhelms militants.
Operation Trashi-I Day 14/sbkinews.in
Winter Operations Challenge: High Altitude Combat
-2°C Dolgam: Frostbite risk, weapon freezing. SF insulated gear deployed.
Neighboring Areas: Cordon Spillover
Kulgam-Pulwama Link: 15 km radius checkpoints prevent reinforcements.
Highway 44: CRPF nakas, vehicle scanning.
Media Blackout: Strategic OpSec
Access: Drone footage only; no embeds.
ISPR Equivalent: Northern Command daily bulletins.
Operation Trashi-I Day 14/sbkinews.in
Post-Op Vision: Dolgar Development Package
₹200 Cr Plan: Post-neutralization—tourism, horticulture revival.
CRPF camp: Permanent counter-terror footprint.
Global Counter-Terror Parallel
Similar Ops:
| Location/Year | Duration | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Dolgam 2026 | 14+ days | Ongoing |
| Manipur 2024 | 12 days | 3 killed |
| Turkey PKK 2023 | 18 days | Commander eliminated |
India’s prolonged ops maturing.
Local Youth Radicalization Block
Post-Op: 50 vocational camps planned. Dolgam school reopened priority.
Technical Deep Dive: Drone Combat Role
Heron Thermal: 640×512 resolution detects heat signatures caves.
Loitering Munitions: Switchblade 300 for pinpoint strikes.
SF Morale: Operation Success Metric
Internal Metrics: 95% target neutralization probability. Day 14 contact boosts closure odds.
Economic Cost: Op Trashi-I Budget
₹15 Cr Expended: Ammo, logistics, air assets. Cost per terrorist: ₹5 cr.
Strategic South Kashmir Pivot
Dolgam success = Shopian-Pulwama terror belt fracture.
Weather Factor: Clearing Skies Aid
Post-fog visibility enables Apache deployment if escalated.
Victory Definition: Three Heads
Endgame: Confirm kills Saifullah trio → Op Trashi closed.
Timeline: 48-72 hours post-contact.
Community Trust Rebuild
Post-Op: Medical camps, compensation disbursed.
India’s counter-terror machine grinds on—Dolgam awaits dawn of peace.
