Encounter breaks out in Udhampur, two terrorists hiding; Army operation underway

Udhampur (The Uttam Hindu): An encounter broke out between security forces and terrorists on Tuesday in the Basantgarh area of Udhampur district in Jammu and Kashmir. One terrorist belonging to Jaish-e-Mohammed is reported to have been injured by gunfire. According to sources, two terrorists are currently hiding inside a cave.

Based on intelligence inputs about the presence of terrorists, a joint team of the Army’s White Knight Corps under CIF Delta, Jammu and Kashmir Police, and CRPF launched a search operation in the Basantgarh area. During the operation, terrorists hiding in the Jaffer forest area of Ramnagar opened fire on the security forces, triggering the encounter.

The exchange of fire continued for about an hour, during which one terrorist was hit by a bullet. However, he managed to retreat into a cave along with his associate. Sources said the cave has two possible exit routes, both of which have been sealed by the security forces after cordoning off the area.

In a social media post, the White Knight Corps said that an intelligence-based joint operation was launched by CIF Delta along with Jammu and Kashmir Police and CRPF in the Basantgarh area of Udhampur. The entire area has been secured and the encounter is ongoing.

Around 7:30 pm on Tuesday, the terrorists attempted to come out of the cave taking advantage of darkness, leading to fresh firing and loud explosions. Following this, additional security forces were rushed to the spot and the cordon was further tightened.

Security forces have also used an Under Barrel Grenade Launcher (UBGL) to neutralize the terrorists. A drone has been sent inside the cave to locate their exact position. Along with Udhampur, Operation Trashi-1 is also being carried out in the Kishtwar district.