JeM Terrorist Killed, Hunt On For Three Others In J&K's Udhampur Ahead Of Amarnath Yatra
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The slain militant was part of a group of four JeM terrorists, who had been under surveillance for nearly a year
In a major counter-terror operation ahead of the annual Amarnath Yatra, security forces on Thursday neutralized a terrorist affiliated with the Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) in the Basantgarh area of Udhampur district in Jammu and Kashmir. The encounter, part of Operation Bihali, was launched jointly by the Indian Army and the Jammu and Kashmir Police, following specific intelligence inputs.
According to officials, the slain militant was part of a group of four JeM terrorists, who had been under surveillance for nearly a year. While one terrorist has been killed, three others remain trapped in the dense forest area near Karoor Nullah.
'In the ongoing joint operation by the Indian Army and J&K Police, one terrorist has been neutralised. The operation is still in progress despite foggy conditions," said a defence spokesperson.
Inspector General of Police (IGP) Jammu Zone Bhim Sen Tuti confirmed that contact was established with the terrorists around 8:30 am. 'This group has been on our radar for a long time. The terrain is difficult, and the bad weather has made the operation challenging, but reinforcements are in place," Tuti told reporters.
Officials stated that the terrorists were confronted during a routine search when the joint party led by the Army's Para commandos tracked them down in the remote forests.
Earlier in the day, the Army's White Knight Corps posted on X that the joint operation had successfully established contact with the terrorists and was actively underway.
The high-stakes operation comes just days before the Amarnath Yatra, scheduled to begin on July 3, prompting heightened security measures across the region. On Wednesday, a multi-agency mock drill was also conducted at the Baltal base camp in Ganderbal, involving the Army, Jammu and Kashmir Police, NDRF, SDRF, CRPF, and disaster response teams to ensure foolproof security for the pilgrimage.
Meanwhile, in a separate incident, security forces launched a search operation in the Purmandal area of Samba district late Wednesday following reports of suspicious movement. The operation concluded with no recovery or arrests, officials confirmed.
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