Udhampur, June 27: Security forces launched a joint operation in the Basantgarh area of Udhampur district in Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday, engaging in an ongoing gunfight with suspected Jaish-e-Mohammad militants, officials said, just days before the annual Amarnath Yatra pilgrimage is set to begin.
The encounter, dubbed Operation Bihali, began early Thursday morning based on intelligence inputs, according to the Indian Army’s White Knight Corps. A joint team of the Army and Jammu and Kashmir Police established contact with the militants in the dense forested region of Kuru in Basantgarh.
“Contact has been established with terrorists. The operation is currently in progress,” the Army said in a post on social media platform X.
Officials said four militants, believed to be members of the Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad group, had been under surveillance for nearly a year and are now trapped in the area. Despite inclement weather, reinforcements have been deployed, and a large-scale search operation is underway.
The encounter comes just a week ahead of the Amarnath Yatra, one of the largest Hindu pilgrimages, scheduled to begin on July 3 and run until August 9. Thousands of pilgrims are expected to visit the Amarnath cave shrine in the Kashmir Himalayas during this period.
On Wednesday, security forces conducted a joint mock drill at the Baltal base camp in Ganderbal district to prepare for the pilgrimage. The drill was supervised by the Senior Superintendent of Police of Ganderbal.
Thursday’s operation also follows heightened security concerns in the region. In April, a terror attack in Pahalgam claimed the lives of 26 tourists. Last month, Indian forces launched Operation Sindoor on May 7, targeting multiple terror hubs in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and Punjab province, reportedly killing over 100 militants.
Authorities say the current operation reflects heightened security vigilance ahead of the Amarnath Yatra and in response to cross-border threats.
