What Led to the Gunfight Between Security Forces and Terrorists in J&K's Udhampur?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Gunfight erupts in Udhampur between security forces and terrorists.
- Security forces initiated a Cordon and Search Operation.
- Heightened security measures in place for the upcoming Amarnath Yatra.
- Reinforcements dispatched to the encounter site.
- Previous attacks have heightened alertness among security personnel.
Jammu, June 26 (NationPress) A fierce gunfight erupted on Thursday in the Udhampur district of Jammu and Kashmir, involving security forces and terrorists. Authorities reported that the clash began after suspicious activity was detected in the Basantgarh area, prompting a Cordon and Search Operation (CASO) initiated by security teams early this morning.
As security personnel were targeted with heavy automatic gunfire, they retaliated, leading to an ongoing encounter. Reinforcements have been dispatched to the location, according to officials.
Further updates are pending.
Following the April 22 attack in Pahalgam, where Pakistan-backed terrorists from Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) claimed the lives of 26 civilians in Baisaran meadow, security forces are on high alert throughout the union territory.
Additional companies from the BSF, CRPF, and SSB have been deployed to Jammu and Kashmir to ensure security for the upcoming Amarnath Yatra, which commences on July 3 and concludes on August 9, coinciding with the Shravan Purnima festival.
Pilgrims can reach the cave shrine either via the longer, traditional Pahalgam route or the shorter Baltal route, ascending to a height of 3888 meters in the Kashmir Himalayas.
A successful mock security drill was conducted on Wednesday across all districts along the Yatris' route to the cave shrine. Security forces are monitoring all mountain tops to thwart any attempts by terrorists to infiltrate and prevent attacks in the hinterland.
In addition to the two base camps at Baltal in Ganderbaj district and Nunwan (Pahalgam) in Anantnag district, multiple transit camps have been established along the two routes to the base camps.
The security forces and local police face the significant challenge of ensuring the smooth and peaceful execution of this year’s Amarnath Yatra, especially following recent hostilities between India and Pakistan, during which Indian Armed Forces targeted terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).