Udhampur, J&K: A massive search operation resumed early Friday in the forested Basantgarh area of Udhampur, as security forces continue their pursuit of three Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) terrorists, a day after their associate was gunned down in a fierce encounter.
The joint operation by the Indian Army and J&K Police was intensified with the deployment of fresh reinforcements, drone surveillance, and sniffer dogs, officials confirmed.
The gunfight began on Thursday in the Bihali area near Karoor Nallah, when the security forces engaged a group of four terrorists based on specific intelligence inputs. One terrorist, Haider alias Maulvi, was killed during the encounter. He was confirmed to be a Pakistani national.
“The search operation is still on. The situation will become clear after the weather clears. It is a group of four terrorists. We had been monitoring these terrorists for the past year,”
— Jammu Zone IGP Bhim Sen Tuti told Hindustan Times
High Alert Ahead of Amarnath Yatra
The search operation coincides with heightened security across Jammu and Kashmir, especially along the Jammu-Srinagar national highway, as the Amarnath Yatra begins on July 3. The first batch of pilgrims leaves from Jammu on July 2.
Mock drills have been conducted and extra paramilitary forces deployed to ensure safety. IGP Tuti urged pilgrims to travel only with official convoys from the Yatri Niwas base camp, warning against independent movement.
Terror Support Network Exposed
According to Army sources, the infiltrating terrorists were using forested routes and hiding in caves to avoid detection. Intelligence reports indicate they were assisted by overground workers (OGWs), five of whom have been arrested for providing food and shelter.
Officials also revealed that one of the JeM operatives is believed to be a local man who returned from Pakistan and has been aiding cross-border infiltration.
The Basantgarh belt is a known infiltration corridor for terrorists entering from the Kathua sector of the International Border.
Backdrop of Regional Tensions
This encounter comes amid renewed tensions in the valley. On April 22, 26 people were killed in Pahalgam in a major terror attack. India responded with Operation Sindoor, launched on May 6, targeting terror camps across the border. A brief armed exchange occurred between May 7 and 10, followed by a ceasefire understanding.