Over 150 Over-Ground Workers Active in J&K’s Kishtwar: Police
Jammu, Jan 2: Jammu and Kashmir Police on Thursday revealed that more than 150 over-ground workers (OGWs) linked to terrorist outfits are currently active in Kishtwar district, even as sustained anti-terror operations have significantly weakened militant networks in the region.
Kishtwar Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Naresh Singh said that around 151 OGWs are operating in the district. Of these, 24 have been arrested and sent to jail so far, while the remaining networks continue to be closely monitored by security agencies.
The SSP said that as part of preventive policing, action was taken against 97 individuals during the year. These measures, he added, have considerably disrupted the logistical, financial and intelligence support systems that sustain terrorist activities.
Providing details of counter-terror efforts, Singh said that over 1,500 cordon and search operations (CASOs) were carried out in Kishtwar during 2025. He added that five encounters involving local and foreign terrorists took place during the year, and operations remain ongoing, particularly in the district’s hilly and forested areas.
The police also identified 36 individuals involved in terrorism who have fled to Pakistan. Properties belonging to 18 such persons have already been seized, while proceedings to attach the remaining properties are underway.
Singh said the police successfully conducted six major intelligence-based counter-terror operations in the district. These terrain-specific operations resulted in the neutralisation of three foreign terrorists, dealing a significant blow to efforts by terror outfits to re-establish their presence in the sensitive region.
Apart from counter-terror operations, the SSP highlighted improvements in general law and order. Of the 394 criminal cases registered in Kishtwar during 2025, 369 were disposed of, achieving a disposal rate of 93.65 percent, up from 86.98 percent in 2024.
To enhance surveillance and preventive policing, the district expanded its CCTV network to 1,831 cameras, with 389 new cameras installed during the year, he added.
