In a significant success for security forces, one terrorist belonging to the Pakistan-backed Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) outfit has been neutralised in an ongoing encounter in the dense Kuru forest area of Basantgarh in Jammu and Kashmir’s Udhampur district.
According to top sources, the joint operation was launched late last night following specific intelligence inputs about the presence of four heavily armed JeM terrorists in the area. Indian Army special forces, already deployed in the region as part of ongoing counter-terror operations, quickly launched a massive cordon and search mission.
As the forces intensified their search, a fierce gun battle erupted with the terrorists. In the exchange of fire that lasted for several hours, one Jaish terrorist was gunned down. He has been identified as a trained sharpshooter, reportedly trained by Pakistan’s Special Services Group (SSG), and is believed to have played a key role in multiple attacks in Kathua, Udhampur, and Doda districts.
Sources further revealed that the slain commander had been active in the region for over a year and was a critical asset to the Jaish network operating in the Jammu division.
Confirming the development, the Indian Army posted on social media platform X:
*“Op BIHALI Update: In the ongoing joint operation by #IndianArmy & @JmuKmrPolice in #Basantgarh, one #terrorist has been neutralized till now. #Operation continues.”*
The encounter is ongoing, with efforts underway to neutralise the remaining terrorists believed to be hiding in the rugged forest terrain.
