Terrorist Neutralised in J&K’s Udhampur During Joint Operation
GG News Bureau
Basantgarh (Udhampur), 26th June: In a pre-dawn counterterrorism operation codenamed Operation Bihali, the Indian Army and the Jammu and Kashmir Police neutralised a terrorist in the Basantgarh region of Udhampur district, officials confirmed Friday. The joint action comes just days ahead of the annual Amarnath Yatra, with heightened security measures in place across the Union Territory.
The operation was launched following specific intelligence inputs regarding terrorist movement in the forested region of Basantgarh. The White Knight Corps of the Indian Army confirmed the development on social media, stating that the terrorist had been “neutralised,” though the operation remains underway as security forces comb the area for any additional threats.
“Based on hard intelligence, a swift joint operation by Army and J&K Police was launched. The terrorist has been eliminated, and sanitisation operations are in progress,” an official said.
Amarnath Yatra Security on High Alert
Security has been significantly bolstered in Jammu and Kashmir ahead of the Amarnath Yatra, which begins on July 3. The 38-day pilgrimage to the 3,880-meter-high Amarnath shrine will commence from the traditional Pahalgam route in Anantnag and the steeper Baltal route in Ganderbal.
To secure the yatra, 180 companies of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) have been deployed, along with intensified surveillance and intelligence-sharing mechanisms between state and central agencies.
Rising Terror Threats and India’s Retaliatory Operations
The encounter in Udhampur is the latest in a string of counterterror operations in Jammu and Kashmir. On May 22, a soldier lost his life in an encounter in Kishtwar, while six terrorists were eliminated in another operation in south Kashmir the previous week.
Security forces have increased anti-terror actions in the wake of the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, in which 26 civilians were killed by terrorists, some reportedly linked to Pakistan-based outfits.
India retaliated with Operation Sindoor, a calibrated military response targeting nine terrorist infrastructure sites in Pakistan, including key headquarters of Lashkar-e-Taiba in Muridke and Jaish-e-Mohammed in Bahawalpur.
Pakistan, in response, attempted to escalate tensions by targeting military and civilian installations in India using drones and missiles over three consecutive days, though most of these attempts failed to cause significant damage.
Situation Remains Fluid
As Operation Bihali continues, authorities remain vigilant, especially with the high-profile yatra approaching. Forces are maintaining a high operational tempo to ensure civilian safety and foil any cross-border infiltration attempts.
Further details are expected after the conclusion of search and sanitisation operations.
