Udhampur Encounter: Two Terrorists Killed
Two terrorists were killed in a late-night gunfight with security forces in Jammu and Kashmir’s Udhampur district, officials said on Thursday. The slain terrorists are suspected to be associated with Kashmir Tigers, a proxy outfit of Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM).
The identities of the two terrorists are yet to be confirmed. Security forces recovered their bodies along with arms and ammunition following the encounter in the Majalta area of Udhampur.
The operation began after security forces received intelligence inputs about the suspicious movement of terrorists in a forested area. Acting on the information, troops launched a cordon and search operation to track down the suspected terrorists.
According to sources, the movement of the terrorists had been detected in the forest region, which has reportedly been used as a transit route by groups linked to Jaish-e-Mohammad. When security forces moved closer to the suspected location, a heavy exchange of fire broke out.
The encounter continued late into the night before security forces neutralised two terrorists in the Udhampur operation.
Udhampur Search Operation Still Underway
Following the gunfight, security forces launched an extensive search and combing operation in the surrounding forest areas to check for the presence of any other terrorists.
Additional troops have been deployed in the area, while surveillance operations are being conducted across possible movement routes. Officials said the operation remains underway and security forces are maintaining a heightened presence to ensure that no remaining threat escapes the area.
The joint operation involved the Rashtriya Rifles, Para Special Forces, Jammu and Kashmir Police and the Central Reserve Police Force.
The White Knight Corps confirmed the operation in a post on X. It said intelligence inputs had indicated the presence of terrorists in the general area of Brattal in Udhampur.
The formation said that despite hostile weather, difficult terrain and poor visibility, security forces launched a targeted counter-terrorism operation that resulted in the killing of two terrorists.
The White Knight Corps also said search and surveillance operations were continuing and that troops remained deployed to identify and neutralise any remaining threat.
Kashmir Tigers Link Under Probe
The two terrorists are believed to have links with Kashmir Tigers, which security agencies identify as a proxy outfit of Jaish-e-Mohammad.
Officials are currently working to establish the identities and nationality of the slain terrorists. Sources said they are believed to be foreign nationals, though formal confirmation is awaited.
The recovery of weapons and ammunition from the encounter site is also expected to form part of the investigation into the terrorists’ activities and their possible movement through the region.
The Udhampur region has witnessed several counter-terrorism operations in recent years. Forested and difficult terrain in parts of the district has previously been used by suspected terrorist groups to move between areas.
In February this year, two suspected JeM terrorists were also killed during an operation in the Majalta area.
LeT Commander Killed Days Earlier
The Udhampur encounter comes days after a Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) commander from Pakistan was killed in a gunfight with security forces in central Kashmir’s Budgam district on September 5.
The terrorist was identified as Yasir and was reportedly associated with the larger Sulaiman Musa group of Lashkar-e-Taiba. According to sources, he had separated from the group nearly a year earlier and was operating independently.
Security agencies had been tracking Yasir’s movements and monitoring his activities in the Yousmarg area before the gunfight.
The latest Udhampur operation comes as security forces continue efforts to disrupt terrorist networks and track suspected militants using forest corridors and difficult terrain in Jammu and Kashmir. Searches in and around the encounter site remain underway as authorities assess whether any other terrorists could still be hiding in the area.
