Intel leads security forces to suspected terrorist hideout in J&K's Udhampur, 1 soldier killed
As the team approached, the armed terrorists opened fire. The operation, codenamed 'BirliGali,' was still underway.
Sources in the defence and security establishment told thePrint that specific actionable intelligence led the joint forces of the Indian Army and J&K Police to zero in on a suspected terrorist hideout in the dense forest area of Basantgarh.
New Delhi: Security forces were engaged Thursday in an exchange of fire with terrorists in the Dudu-Basantgarh area of Jammu & Kashmir's Udhampur district. At least one soldier, who was injured, later succumbed to his injuries.
One soldier, identified as Hav Jhantu Ali Shaikh of 6 PARA Special Forces, who was wounded in the initial exchange of fire, later succumbed to his injuries. In a post on X, the White Knight Corps of the Indian Army said, 'One of our #Bravehearts sustained grievous injuries in the initial exchange and later succumbed despite best medical efforts.'
#GOC #WhiteKnightCorps and all ranks salute #Braveheart Hav Jhantu Ali Shaikh of 6 PARA SF, who made the supreme #sacrifice during a counter #terror #operation.
His indomitable courage and the valour of his team will never be forgotten.
We stand in solidarity with the bereaved… pic.twitter.com/BzogemMct9
— White Knight Corps (@Whiteknight_IA) April 24, 2025
The Udhampur encounter comes less than 48 hours after the deadly terror attack in Pahalgam that left 26 dead and only a day after security forces foiled an infiltration bid in Uri, killing two terrorists with suspected links to Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT).
Sources say the terrorists involved in the Dudu-Basantgarh encounter may also have links to Pakistan-backed outfits operating from across the Line of Control (LoC), although their exact affiliations remain to be officially confirmed.
This is the latest in a spate of engagements across J&K as militant activity shows signs of resurgence along both the LoC and the hinterland.
It comes amid a notable increase in intelligence alerts and troop deployments across sensitive areas, as counter-terror operations have been ramped up in response.
(Edited by Sanya Mathur)
Also Read: Security forces foil infiltration bid at J&K's Uri, 2 terrorists with suspected links to LeT killed
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