Four heavily armed terrorists affiliated with the Pakistan-based terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM), who have been under surveillance for nearly a year, are currently trapped in the dense forests of Jammu and Kashmir’s Udhampur district.
Security forces launched a major operation to neutralize them, braving rain and low visibility due to heavy fog, officials confirmed on Thursday.
The encounter began early Thursday morning in the remote Bihali area of Basantgarh, when a joint team of the Indian Army and Jammu and Kashmir Police initiated a cordon-and-search operation based on specific intelligence inputs.
According to Inspector General of Police (IGP), Jammu range, Bhim Sen Tuti, “Contact with the group was established around 8:30 am. There are believed to be four terrorists, and this particular group has been on our radar for the last year.”
Despite the adverse weather conditions, the operation—codenamed Operation Bihali—is ongoing. Army para commandos are leading the effort on the ground, focusing on a zone near Karoor Nallah where the terrorists were reportedly spotted.
Fog and rain continue to pose significant challenges to visibility and movement, delaying a complete assessment of the situation.
“There is a strong possibility that some of the terrorists may still be hiding in the deeper parts of the forest,” said a senior security official, cautioning that the dense terrain could provide natural cover to those attempting to escape.
Earlier in the day, the Jammu-based White Knight Corps posted on the social media platform X, stating: “Based on specific intelligence, a joint operation was launched by the Indian Army and J&K Police in the Bihali area of Basantgarh. Contact has been established with terrorists. The operation is currently in progress.”
This high-stakes operation comes just a week before the start of the annual Amarnath Yatra, heightening security concerns in the region.
In a separate development, security forces also conducted a late-night search operation in the Purmandal area of Samba district on Wednesday following reports of suspicious movement.
The area was thoroughly scanned, and the operation concluded without incident after no threats were detected.
Security forces remain on high alert across Jammu and Kashmir, particularly in the run-up to major religious events, amid growing concerns about attempts to infiltrate or disrupt peace in the region.