Three terrorist hideouts were busted in Jammu's Kathua district during an ongoing anti-terror operation in forest areas, the J&K Police announced on January 16, 2026. Two of these hideouts were found in Kalikhad and Kalaban regions of Billawar. The police spokesman said the recovered items included a cooking gas cylinder, cooking oil, charger wire, hand gloves, cooking and eating utensils, empty oil gallon, large plastic bags, torch, blankets, containers, wrappers of eatables, and other supplies. The first hideout was found on January 7 after "reliable intelligence about the movement of anti-national element(s) in the forest area of Kamaad Nallah, Kalaban, Dhanu Parole, Billawar." Acting swiftly, joint security forces launched a massive search operation. During this operation, unknown terrorists fired indiscriminately on the security forces, leading to an intense exchange of fire that lasted all night. Police recovered two M4 empty cartridges, a box with desi ghee, a packet of almonds, hand gloves, a cap, a blanket, a tarpaulin sheet, a small pouch, and a polythene bag. Senior Superintendent of Police, Mohita Sharma, said, "The search operation is still underway and the Kathua police remains fully committed to maintain peace and security in the district."