*Gunfire in Udhampur: Security Forces Clash with Terrorists in Intense Encounter*

A face-off between terrorists and security forces occurred at Dudu Basantgarh, Udhampur district of Jammu and Kashmir, on Thursday in the latest anti-terror operation in the area. The skirmishes followed after security inputs suggested militant activity in the thick, high-altitude forest area, notorious for having difficult terrain as well as natural cave hideouts. Security personnel, including the Indian Army's 9 Corps and Jammu and Kashmir Police, sealed off the area and had a fierce gun battle with at least two militants, initial reports indicate.

The operation comes after increased security following the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, when 26 civilians, the majority of whom were tourists, were killed. The investigations into the attack revealed that three Pakistan-based militants (Asif Fauji, Suleman Shah, Abu Talha) and two local recruits trained in Pakistan had participated. Victims, survivors explained, were asked to recite Islamic prayers or present religious symbols before being murdered, a tactic that confirms the attackers' intent to instigate communal tensions.

Security personnel in Udhampur were also logistically hindered by the dense jungle cover and risk of ambushes. The region is under the operational command of Indian Army's 16 Corps, which has increased "seek and destroy" operations in Jammu districts, such as recent ones in Kishtwar's Chattru forest (April 9–11) that incapacitated one terrorist. 

Reinforcements were rushed to Dudu Basantgarh to catch militants off guard at night so that they would not escape, a tactic used during a similar engagement on April 9–10 at Udhampur's Joffar village.

The militancy surge has led the Union Home Minister, Amit Shah, to seek top-level security meetings, with an "eye for zero tolerance" on terrorism and more intelligence agency-ground force collaboration. Although there have been no casualties till now in the operation underway in Udhampur, the forces are keeping a close vigil to avert any spill-over into civilian areas.

The Dudu Basantgarh attack highlights the continued potential for cross-border terrorism in Jammu, especially at the sites of infiltration along the International Border.

 Security experts have linked the uptick in attacks to efforts from Pakistan-based outfits to destabilize the area in the run-up to major political activities.