Two terrorists killed in Udhampur encounter, operation ongoing in J&K
Synopsis
Joint forces killed two terrorists in an active encounter in Udhampur's Majalta on Wednesday, part of a six-month sustained security push across J&K's Pir Panjal belt. The operation follows the arrest of three alleged Lashkar-e-Taiba overground workers in Rajouri just two days earlier, signalling a sharply intensified counter-terror tempo across the Jammu division.
Key Takeaways
At least two terrorists were killed in an encounter in Majalta, Udhampur , Jammu and Kashmir on 17 September 2025 .
The joint operation involves the Indian Army , CRPF , and the Special Operations Group (SOG) of J&K Police.
The encounter remains ongoing ; the identity of the slain terrorists has not yet been confirmed.
On 15 September , Rajouri Police arrested three alleged members of a Lashkar-e-Taiba -linked OGW network — Zakir Hussain , Mohd Azam , and Mohd Mushtaq .
Anti-terror operations across the Udhampur-Reasi range have been intensified for over six months , with sniffer dogs and aerial surveillance deployed.
At least two terrorists were killed on Wednesday, 17 September 2025, during an ongoing joint security operation in Udhampur district, Jammu and Kashmir, after suspicious movement was detected in the Majalta area, officials confirmed. The encounter remains active, with reinforcements deployed and aerial surveillance covering the zone.
How the Operation Unfolded
Security forces launched a cordon and search operation after suspicious movement was reported from Majalta on Wednesday evening. Contact — an exchange of gunfire — was established with the terrorists shortly after the operation commenced.
'During the ensuing gunfight, two terrorists have been killed. The operation is still going on in the area. The exact identity of the slain terrorists is being ascertained,' officials stated.
The operation was initially mounted by Jammu and Kashmir Police and special Para troopers of the Indian Army. Reinforcements were immediately rushed to the site after the encounter began. A joint team comprising the Indian Army, the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), and the Special Operations Group (SOG) of Jammu and Kashmir Police subsequently took over searches in the area.
Heightened Security Across the Pir Panjal Belt
The operation comes amid sharply heightened security activity across the Pir Panjal region. On 15 September, Rajouri Police arrested three individuals — identified as Zakir Hussain, Mohd Azam, and Mohd Mushtaq — in connection with an alleged terror module operating in the region. That arrest was linked to the alleged busting of an overground worker (OGW) network connected to Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) in Rajouri.
The hilly districts of Udhampur, Reasi, Ramban, Kathua, Poonch, and Rajouri have remained under special security focus amid reported movements of what officials describe as hardcore Pakistani terrorists in these inaccessible areas. High alert, vehicle checks, and tight cordons are in place across strategic routes in the Udhampur-Reasi range.
Six Months of Sustained Counter-Terror Push
Anti-terrorist operations in this belt have continued for more than six months, with security forces notching a series of successes, including the neutralisation of several top-tier militants. Notably, sniffer dogs and aerial surveillance assets have been deployed to sanitise the terrain and locate any remaining active threats.
Analysts and security officials argue the sustained pressure serves a strategic purpose beyond individual kills: by keeping terrorists constantly on the move, forces deny them the operational space needed to plan or execute attacks against the Army, security personnel, or civilians.
What Happens Next
The encounter in Majalta is active as of the latest reports, with the identity of the slain terrorists still being ascertained. A full operational debriefing and forensic sweep of the site are expected once the area is declared sanitised. Given the recent arrests of alleged overground workers and the sustained tempo of operations, security forces are likely to maintain an elevated posture across the Jammu division in the days ahead.
Point of View
Multi-agency push to clear the Pir Panjal corridor of entrenched militant networks. What is notable is the sequencing: the Rajouri OGW arrests on 15 September, followed within 48 hours by an active gunfight in Udhampur, suggests either actionable intelligence flowing from those arrests or a concurrent surveillance operation that had already zeroed in on these positions. The mainstream narrative tends to treat each encounter as a standalone success; the more important question is whether the OGW supply chain — the logistics layer that keeps militants fed, sheltered, and armed — is being systematically dismantled. That is the harder, less visible fight, and the one that will determine whether the current tempo translates into durable security or simply forces a tactical regrouping across the border.
NationPress
17 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened in the Udhampur encounter on 17 September 2025?
At least two terrorists were killed during a joint security operation in Majalta, Udhampur district, Jammu and Kashmir, on Wednesday, 17 September 2025. The operation was launched after suspicious movement was reported in the area and remains ongoing as of the latest reports.
Which security forces are involved in the Udhampur operation?
The operation involves the Indian Army, the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), and the Special Operations Group (SOG) of Jammu and Kashmir Police. Para troopers from the Army initiated the cordon alongside J&K Police before reinforcements arrived.
Has the identity of the slain terrorists been confirmed?
No. Officials stated that the exact identity of the two killed terrorists is still being ascertained. A full forensic sweep and debriefing are expected once the area is declared sanitised.
What is the connection to the Rajouri arrests on 15 September?
On 15 September 2025, Rajouri Police arrested three people — Zakir Hussain, Mohd Azam, and Mohd Mushtaq — allegedly linked to a Lashkar-e-Taiba overground worker network in the Pir Panjal region. The Udhampur encounter follows as part of the same heightened security sweep across the Jammu division.
How long have anti-terror operations been running in this area?
Security forces have been conducting sustained anti-terror operations across the hilly districts of Udhampur, Reasi, Ramban, Kathua, Poonch, and Rajouri for more than six months. Several top-tier militants have reportedly been neutralised during this period.
