UDHAMPUR — Two terrorists suspected of being affiliated with the Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad outfit were killed during an intelligence-driven joint counter-terror operation in the forested upper reaches of Jammu and Kashmir’s Udhampur district, security officials confirmed on Thursday.
The coordinated offensive is being executed jointly by the Indian Army, Jammu and Kashmir Police, and the Central Reserve Police Force across the difficult terrain of the Brattal Sohan and Khubban regions in Majalta. Security forces pushed ahead with the operation despite torrential rainfall, rugged high-altitude topography, and low visibility.
The Army’s Jammu-based White Knight Corps confirmed that two terrorists were neutralized following the launch of the operation during the intervening night of September 16 and 17. Security agencies had been tracking the movement of a suspected terrorist cadre through the dense forest since their presence was initially flagged last week.
Upon receiving concrete actionable intelligence regarding their hideout in the Brattal area, joint forces established a tight multi-layered cordon at around 9:00 p.m. on Wednesday, triggering the initial gunfight and multiple explosions. While intermittent quiet prevailed through the midnight hours, heavy firing resumed on Thursday morning when the trapped militants opened fire in a bid to break through the perimeter.
Additional reinforcements were immediately dispatched to reinforce the security net and block potential escape corridors. Extensive search and surveillance measures remain active across the forest belt to identify any residual threats, with authorities continuing to monitor the region closely as further operational details emerge.
