KD NEWS SERVICE
JAMMU, Feb 4: Security forces on Wednesday eliminated three terrorists in two separate encounters in Jammu and Kashmir’s Udhampur and Kishtwar districts, as anti-terror operations continued across the Union Territory amid heightened security measures.
In Udhampur district, two terrorists were killed during a prolonged encounter in the remote Basantgarh area following a joint operation launched by the Army, Jammu and Kashmir Police, and other security agencies late Tuesday evening. The operation was initiated after specific intelligence inputs indicated the presence of armed terrorists hiding in the forested terrain.
Officials said the terrorists had taken shelter inside a cave deep in a densely wooded area. When the joint security team moved in to cordon off the location, the hiding terrorists opened fire, prompting a fierce exchange of gunfire.
To track the movement of the terrorists and assess the ground situation more effectively, the operation was intensified with the deployment of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Officials said the drones played a crucial role in confirming the terrorists’ exact location inside the cave, enabling the forces to further tighten the cordon and recalibrate their operational strategy.
“Based on drone surveillance, the joint forces closed in on the cave and responded in a calibrated and professional manner, effectively blocking all possible escape routes,” a senior official said.
After a sustained exchange of fire, both terrorists were neutralised. Their bodies were later recovered from the site along with arms, ammunition, and other incriminating material, officials added.
The operation was carried out with extreme caution due to the thick forest cover and the possibility of the presence of more terrorists in the surrounding area. As a precautionary measure, residents of nearby villages were advised to stay indoors until the operation was completed and the area was fully sanitised.
Meanwhile, in a separate incident in Kishtwar district, another terrorist was killed during a gunfight with security forces in the Chatroo area on Wednesday. The encounter broke out during an ongoing cordon-and-search operation launched in the Bichaar locality following intelligence inputs about suspicious terrorist movement.
Officials said that as security forces were conducting searches in the area, the hiding terrorist opened fire on the search party, leading to a brief but intense exchange of gunfire.
“One terrorist has been neutralised so far during the operation,” an official said, adding that additional security personnel were rushed to the area to strengthen the cordon and ensure that no other terrorist managed to escape.
Search operations were continuing in the area to rule out the presence of any more terrorists, officials said.
The twin encounters come at a time when security forces have intensified counter-terror operations across the Union Territory. Senior security officials have recently reviewed the prevailing security situation and emphasised the need for sustained, intelligence-based operations to eliminate terrorist elements, while maintaining strict vigilance along the borders and the Line of Control to prevent infiltration.
