Are Four Terrorists Trapped in Udhampur's Bihali?

Jammu, June 26 (NationPress) - On Thursday, authorities reported that four terrorists are currently cornered within a secured perimeter in Udhampur district of Jammu and Kashmir, where a gunfight erupted earlier today.

The Inspector General of Police (IGP) for the Jammu Zone, Bhim Sen Tuti, indicated that the ongoing encounter involves a group of four terrorists.

In statements to the media, the IGP mentioned that contact with the terrorists was established around 8:30 a.m., although challenging weather conditions are complicating the situation.

“We will have a clearer understanding once the weather improves. Our assessment suggests that a group of four terrorists is entrenched here,” he noted.

Previously, the Army reported an outbreak of hostilities between terrorists and security personnel in the Bihali region of Basantgarh, triggered by specific intelligence inputs.

Officials stated that following reports of suspicious activity in the Basantgarh area, security forces initiated a Cordon and Search Operation (CASO) early this morning.

“The security forces were met with heavy automatic gunfire, which was countered, leading to the ongoing encounter. Additional reinforcements have been deployed to the scene,” officials added.

Following the Pahalgam attack on April 22, where Pakistan-backed terrorists from Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) took the lives of 26 civilians in Baisaran meadow, security forces have heightened their alertness across the union territory.

Extra companies from the BSF, CRPF, and SSB have been dispatched to Jammu and Kashmir to ensure safety for the upcoming Amarnath Yatra, set to commence on July 3 and wrap up on August 9, coinciding with the Shravan Purnima festival.

Pilgrims will have the option to approach the cave shrine via the longer traditional Pahalgam route or the shorter Baltal route, which leads to a cave located at an elevation of 3,888 meters in the Kashmir Himalayas.

A successful mock security drill took place on Wednesday across all districts along the routes that Yatris will utilize to reach the shrine.

Security forces are maintaining a presence atop all mountain peaks to prevent terrorist movements into the hinterland. In addition to the two primary camps in Baltal (Ganderbal district) and Nunwan (Pahalgam, Anantnag district), several transit camps have been established along both routes to the base camps.

The successful and peaceful execution of this year’s Amarnath Yatra poses a significant challenge for security forces and local police, particularly as this Yatra occurs amid heightened tensions following military actions by India targeting terrorist infrastructures in Pakistan and Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK).