June 27, 2025: A week ahead of start of the Amarnath pilgrimage, a highly trained terrorist, believed to be Pakistani, was shot dead during an encounter with the security forces in the Basantgarh area of Udhampur district on Thursday.
The dense forest of Bihali in Basantgarh contained at least four terrorists, according to information provided to intelligence agencies. They were confronted by a joint search party of the J&K Police and the Special Forces of the Army on Thursday morning.
Basantgarh is on the traditional route taken by Pakistani terrorists to get to the higher reaches of the Jammu region or the Valley from the international border in Kathua. Sources said the group belongs to the Pakistan-backed Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) terror outfit and is heavily armed. Additionally, they have M4 carbines. The sources said from the tactics being used by the terrorists during the encounter, it appeared they were likely trained in jungle warfare.
“Based on a tip-off, a joint operation was launched by the Army and the police in the Bihali area of Basantgarh. A contact has been established with terrorists. The operation is currently in progress,” the Nagrota-based White Knight Corps posted on X.
Later, it said, “In the ongoing joint operation, one terrorist has been neutralised till now.”
According to Bhim Sen Tuti, Jammu's Inspector General of Police, a search operation is currently underway. “There is a thick fog cover in the area and weather conditions are not favourable. Things will be clear once the weather improves” said Tuti.
The terrorists are carrying arms, ammunition and food in their backpacks.
According to the sources, the group had entered India at least a year ago and was being followed by the authorities. They were moving from one area to another and overground workers (OGWs) were likely providing them food and other logistics. The terrorists were concealing themselves in natural caves and forests. The police and army's Special Operations Group was keeping a tight cordon because the remaining terrorists might try to hide from the fog and bad weather and try to flee. Additional forces have already been rushed to the area.