Late-Night Encounter in Udhampur
Two suspected terrorists were killed in a security operation in the Sohan area of Udhampur district in Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday. Officials confirmed that the individuals were likely affiliated with the Pakistan-based militant group Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM).
The operation began after security forces received intelligence regarding suspicious movement in the region. A joint team comprising the Rashtriya Rifles, Para (Special Forces), and the Jammu and Kashmir Police initiated a cordon and search operation. The situation escalated into a gunbattle when the suspected terrorists opened fire on the security personnel. The exchange of fire continued through the night until the bodies of the two individuals were recovered in the early hours of Thursday.
Identity and Recovered Items
Authorities have not yet established the identities of the deceased. However, preliminary intelligence inputs suggest that they may be foreign nationals linked to JeM. Security forces also recovered arms and ammunition from the encounter site. The specific details regarding the types of weapons seized have not been disclosed in the initial reports.
Broader Counter-Terror Operations
This incident is part of a broader intensification of counter-terrorism efforts across the Jammu region. Security agencies have been conducting sustained search and surveillance operations in forested and difficult-to-access areas based on intelligence inputs about terrorist movements.
Earlier this month, security forces killed a Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) commander in an encounter in Budgam district. The individual, identified as Yasir, was associated with the Sulaiman Musa group of LeT but had reportedly split from the group nearly a year prior to operate independently. Security agencies had been tracking his movements in the Yousmarg area before the encounter.
Ongoing Surveillance
Recent reporting indicates that joint teams from the Army, CRPF, and J&K Police have intensified searches in the Majalta belt following intelligence about suspicious activities. The continued focus on the Jammu region reflects the security establishment's priority to neutralize suspected foreign terrorists operating in the area.