Two JeM terrorists killed in J&K's Udhampur; arms cache recovered
Synopsis
Operation Soan in J&K's Udhampur has eliminated two Pakistani Jaish-e-Mohammed militants — identified as Saddam and Mustafa — recovering a substantial arms cache including AK rifles, an M4 Carbine, a Glock pistol, and grenades. The operation is part of a months-long security surge across the Pir Panjal belt following the recent arrest of an alleged Lashkar-e-Taiba overground worker network in Rajouri.
Key Takeaways
Two Pakistani Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorists, identified as Saddam and Mustafa , were killed in Operation Soan in Udhampur , J&K, on 17 September 2026 .
The operation was launched after suspicious movement was detected in Majalta, Udhampur on Wednesday evening .
Arms recovered include an AK assault rifle , an M4 Carbine , a Glock pistol , and 4 grenades .
A joint team of the Indian Army , CRPF , and J&K Police SOG is continuing searches in the area.
On 15 September , Rajouri Police arrested three alleged Lashkar-e-Taiba overground workers in a related crackdown across the Pir Panjal region .
Anti-terror operations have been underway in the Udhampur-Reasi belt for more than six months .
Two Pakistani Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terrorists were killed in Operation Soan in Udhampur district of Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday, 17 September 2026, J&K Police confirmed. The militants have been identified as Saddam and Mustafa, according to an official police statement.
How the Operation Unfolded
The operation was triggered after suspicious movement was reported from the Majalta area of Udhampur district on Wednesday evening. Joint security forces immediately launched a cordon and search operation, and contact — an exchange of gunfire — was established with the terrorists shortly after.
The operation was initially launched by J&K Police and the Para Special Forces of the Indian Army. Reinforcements were rushed to the site as the encounter intensified. A joint team comprising the Indian Army, the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), and the Special Operations Group (SOG) of J&K Police subsequently conducted searches in the surrounding area.
Arms and Ammunition Recovered
A significant cache of weapons was seized from the slain militants. Recovered items include an AK assault rifle with 4 magazines, an M4 Carbine with 3 magazines, a Glock pistol with 2 magazines, and 4 grenades. The arsenal points to a well-equipped infiltration team, according to security officials.
Wider Security Crackdown in the Region
The operation comes amid 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 overground worker (OGW) network linked to the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) operating in the region.
Security forces have since deployed sniffer dogs and aerial surveillance to sanitise the area. High-alert protocols, vehicle checking, and tight cordons remain in force across strategic routes in the Udhampur-Reasi range.
A Months-Long Campaign Against Cross-Border Terror
The hilly districts of Udhampur, Reasi, Ramban, Kathua, Poonch, and Rajouri have been under sustained security focus due to reported infiltration by Pakistani militants through dense, inaccessible terrain. Anti-terrorist operations have been ongoing for more than six months, with several top-ranked terrorists neutralised in that period.
Security analysts note that the continuous operational pressure denies terrorists any stable foothold, limiting their ability to plan and execute attacks against security forces and civilians. Searches in the Udhampur area are continuing, with the possibility of additional militants in the vicinity not ruled out by officials.
Point of View
Well-armed Pakistani JeM operatives in Udhampur is a tactical win, but it also underscores a persistent structural challenge: militants with high-grade weaponry — M4 Carbines are not standard infiltration kit — continue to penetrate deep into Jammu's hinterland. The back-to-back arrests in Rajouri and the encounter in Udhampur within 48 hours suggest coordinated cross-border activity rather than isolated movement, a pattern that demands strategic, not just operational, attention. That anti-terror sweeps have run for over six months without fully sanitising the Pir Panjal corridor raises questions about the depth of local support networks and the adequacy of intelligence sharing between agencies. The recovered arsenal should also prompt scrutiny of how such weapons are reaching Pakistani groups operating inside Indian territory.
NationPress
17 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who were the terrorists killed in Operation Soan in Udhampur?
The two terrorists killed were Pakistani Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) militants identified as Saddam and Mustafa. They were neutralised in an encounter in the Majalta area of Udhampur district, Jammu and Kashmir, on 17 September 2026.
What weapons were recovered from the slain militants?
Security forces recovered an AK assault rifle with 4 magazines, an M4 Carbine with 3 magazines, a Glock pistol with 2 magazines, and 4 grenades from the two militants. The recovered arsenal indicates a heavily equipped infiltration team.
What triggered Operation Soan in Udhampur?
The operation was launched after suspicious movement was reported from the Majalta area of Udhampur district on Wednesday evening. J&K Police and the Army's Para Special Forces initiated a cordon and search, which led to a gunfight with the militants.
Is the operation in Udhampur over?
The encounter phase of Operation Soan has concluded with two terrorists killed, but searches in the area are continuing. A joint team of the Indian Army, CRPF, and the Special Operations Group of J&K Police remains deployed in the region.
How does this encounter relate to the broader security situation in Jammu and Kashmir?
The Udhampur operation is part of a sustained, months-long security offensive across the Pir Panjal belt, covering districts including Udhampur, Reasi, Rajouri, and Poonch. It follows the 15 September arrest of three alleged Lashkar-e-Taiba overground workers in Rajouri, indicating coordinated cross-border terror activity in the region.
