By Sulagna Halder
Udhampur, 27 June 2025:
According to officials on Friday, a high stakes search operation is underway in the forested Basantgarh area of Udhampur district after one Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) operative based in Pakistan was killed and three others are still at large. When security forces, including the Central Reserve Police Force, Jammu and Kashmir Police, and Indian Army Para Commandos, confronted a group of four militants near Karoor Nallah in the isolated Bihali belt on Thursday afternoon, the operation came to life. "One terrorist has been successfully neutralized, and the search is on to track down the remaining three," said Inspector General of Police Bhim Sen Tuti.
Through intercepted communications, the dead militant has been identified as Haider, code named Maulvi, a JeM commander based in Pakistan who has been connected to terrorist plots throughout the region. With the help of sniffer dogs, drones, and reinforcements, the search resumed early Friday. As the weather improved, the security cordon was strengthened in challenging terrain. This most recent encounter comes after a tense time in Jammu and Kashmir, which was especially brought on by the terror attack in Pahalgam on April 22, which claimed the lives of 26 civilians. Since then, there has been increased counterterrorism activity in the Basantgarh belt, including several gunfights.
According to military sources, the JeM cadre has been under surveillance for more than a year, and intelligence reports suggest that they have plans to travel through Udhampur's forests and beyond. “This is an intelligence driven operation,” said Brig.dier Karan Verma of the Army’s White Knight Corps. Our top goal is to eliminate any surviving militants while maintaining public safety. Security forces are using satellite based geospatial technology and thermal cameras to track militant movement patterns while navigating through dense forests and steep hills.
In Ramnagar, a joint command center has been set up, and senior officers are in charge of managing operations and working with the local government to evacuate the surrounding population. The ongoing operation has not resulted in any reported injuries to security personnel. Authorities have established temporary rest areas and medical assistance points and warn locals not to enter the area.
India's renewed determination to dismantle terrorist networks in the wake of Pahalgam is demonstrated by this security sweep. Ahead of the impending Amarnath pilgrimage and the monsoon season, officials emphasize that eradicating the last JeM militants is essential for maintaining regional stability. Security agencies are on high alert as they step up efforts to rid the Basantgarh forests of terrorists, with the operation anticipated to last into the weekend.
