Udhampur/Poonch – In the aftermath of the horrific Pahalgam terror attack, a fresh encounter has broken out between security forces and terrorists in Udhampur’s Dudu Basantgarh area, police confirmed on Thursday.
According to a statement from Jammu and Kashmir Police, the operation is currently underway and more details are awaited.
This comes even as a major search operation continues in Poonch, where the Romeo Force of the Indian Army and the Special Operations Group (SOG) have been conducting joint anti-terror operations for 10 straight days in the dense Lasana forest region.
The search began following a fierce exchange of fire on April 14, when terrorists targeted Romeo Force personnel, injuring one soldier near Lasana village along the Jammu-Poonch National Highway. Since then, security forces have intensified their presence, cordoning off key forest zones and combing suspected hideouts.
Vigil on Highways and Border Zones Heightened
Security forces have also ramped up surveillance along National Highway 144, which connects Jammu to Rajouri and Poonch. Rajouri Traffic Police Officer Ahmed Din shared details of the extensive measures taken:
“We are verifying local drivers’ documents, restricting the movement of heavy trucks to avoid traffic jams, and working 24/7 with nakas set up across the highway. District Police, Traffic Police, and the Army are all on high alert.”
Backdrop: India Still Reeling From Pahalgam Horror
The heightened activity comes just days after 26 civilians were massacred in a brutal terrorist assault on tourists at Baisaran meadow in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir. The attack, which unfolded on April 22, has sent shockwaves across the country and is being compared to the 2019 Pulwama suicide bombing, in which 40 CRPF personnel lost their lives.
The Cabinet Committee on Security, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has already initiated strong retaliatory diplomatic steps:
- Suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty
- Closure of the Wagah-Attari Integrated Check Post
- Revocation of SAARC visa exemption for Pakistani nationals
- Designation of certain Pakistani officials as Persona Non Grata
With militants believed to still be hiding in dense forested areas, the Indian Army, SOG, and paramilitary forces remain engaged in multi-front operations to neutralize threats and prevent any further infiltration or coordinated terror acts.
India stands united, resolute, and vigilant as these back-to-back incidents reinforce the volatile security scenario in Jammu and Kashmir, post the abrogation of Article 370.