Ahead of Amarnath yatra, 1 terrorist killed in anti-terror operation in J&K’s Udhampur

The operation, codenamed ‘Operation Bihali’, led to an encounter between terrorists and a joint team of the Army and Jammu and Kashmir Police in a dense forest area.

Srinagar: An unidentified terrorist was killed in an ongoing encounter with security forces in the hilly Basantgarh area of Udhampur district in Jammu region on Thursday.

Providing an update on the operation, the White Knight Corps of the Indian Army said, “In the ongoing joint operation by the Indian Army and J K Police in Basantgarh, one terrorist has been neutralized till now.”

Just a week before the annual Amarnath Yatra is set to begin, a joint team of the Army and Jammu and Kashmir Police in a dense forest area of Basantgarh launched ‘Operation Bihali’.

Earlier, Inspector General of Police (IGP), Jammu Zone, Bhim Sen, confirmed that a group of four terrorists is believed to be trapped. The contact was established early Thursday morning, but challenging weather conditions have hampered visibility and movement in the rugged terrain.

“Contact with the terrorists was established at around 8:30 am today. However, the weather is currently unfavorable, which is impacting the progress of the operation,” the IGP told reporters. “As per our assessment, a group of four terrorists is holed up in the area. The situation will become clearer once the weather improves.”

The operation comes amid heightened security concerns ahead of the Amarnath Yatra, which annually draws lakhs of pilgrims to the Himalayan cave shrine. Officials said the massive operation was launched based on specific intelligence inputs about the presence of heavily armed militants hiding in the region.

Security forces have cordoned off the entire forest belt of Basantgarh, and reinforcements have been rushed to prevent any attempt by the militants to escape, sources said. Drones and other surveillance equipment are also being used to track movements despite low visibility due to overcast conditions.

The Basantgarh region, known for its tough mountainous terrain and thick forest cover, has seen a resurgence in militant activity in recent months. The latest operation is being seen as part of intensified efforts by the security establishment to prevent any disruption to the Yatra and neutralize any militant presence in the Jammu region.