Did One Terrorist Get Killed in the Ongoing Udhampur Gunfight?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- One terrorist killed in Udhampur encounter.
- Four militants are believed to be trapped.
- Security forces are on high alert for the Amarnath Yatra.
- Ongoing operations are hampered by weather conditions.
- Mock security drills conducted across Yatra routes.
Jammu, June 26 (NationPress) One terrorist was eliminated on Thursday during an ongoing confrontation between security forces and militants in the Basantgarh region of J&K’s Udhampur district.
Inspector General of Police (IGP), Jammu Zone, Bhim Sen Tuti indicated that there are four militants believed to be cornered in this active encounter.
In a briefing with the media, the IGP noted that contact with the militants was established around 8:30 a.m., although adverse weather conditions are hampering operations.
“The situation will be clearer once the weather permits. Based on our evaluation, a group of four militants is currently holed up,” he stated.
Earlier, the Army reported that the clash began in the Bihali area of Basantgarh due to specific intelligence.
Officials mentioned that following reports of suspicious activity in the Basantgarh area, security forces initiated a Cordon and Search Operation (CASO) this morning.
“The security personnel came under intense automatic gunfire, which they returned, leading to the ongoing encounter. Reinforcements have been dispatched to the location,” officials confirmed.
Following the Pahalgam attack on April 22, security forces are on heightened alert in the union territory. Additional contingents of BSF, CRPF, and SSB have been deployed in Jammu and Kashmir to ensure security for the upcoming Amarnath Yatra, scheduled from July 3 to August 9, coinciding with the Shravan Purnima festival.
Pilgrims can access the cave shrine via the longer, traditional Pahalgam route or the shorter Baltal route, leading to the shrine located at an elevation of 3,888 meters in the Kashmir Himalayas.
A mock security drill was successfully conducted on Wednesday across all districts that the Yatris will traverse to reach the cave shrine. Security forces are overseeing all mountain peaks to prevent militants from moving into the interior.
In addition to the two base camps at Baltal in Ganderbal district and Nunwan (Pahalgam) in 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 presents a significant challenge for security forces and local police, especially as this Yatra occurs after India and Pakistan engaged in hostilities, during which the Indian Armed Forces targeted terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).