Udhampur Encounter: Terrorists Open Heavy Fire to Break Cordon, Security Forces Retaliate

A gunfight broke out between security forces and suspected terrorists in a forested area of Udhampur district in Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday morning, officials said, as a joint anti-terror operation continued in the area.

The operation was launched around 9 p.m. on Wednesday in the remote Bratel Soan and Khubban areas of Majalta, following specific inputs about the movement of suspected terrorists, officials said. The search party comprised personnel of the Army, the Jammu and Kashmir Police and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF).

According to officials, a few rounds of firing and blasts were heard in the forest shortly after the operation began. These were reportedly carried out by the security forces while targeting a suspected hideout. The area remained largely quiet through the night.

That lull ended on Thursday morning, when the suspected terrorists opened heavy fire in an attempt to break the cordon, officials said. The security forces retaliated, triggering an encounter that was still underway when the last reports were received. Reinforcements were rushed to the area, officials added.

There was no immediate official word on casualties on either side, or on the number of persons believed to be trapped inside the cordon. Officials said the operation was continuing and that further details would be made available once the situation was brought under control.

Majalta lies in the Shivalik foothills of Udhampur district, an area marked by dense forest cover and difficult, undulating terrain. Security agencies say such conditions slow down cordon-and-search operations, as movement is restricted and visibility is poor. Operations in these belts often stretch over several hours, and sometimes more than a day.

The operation is part of continuing counter-insurgency efforts in the Union Territory. In a separate incident in south Kashmir's Shopian district recently, a militant affiliated with the Lashkar-e-Taiba was killed in an encounter, officials had said.

Jammu and Kashmir has witnessed a series of encounters over the past months, with security forces conducting search operations based on intelligence inputs about the presence of armed groups. Officials maintain that each operation is carried out with an effort to avoid harm to civilians living in and around the search areas, and that residents are moved to safety where required.

Details of the Udhampur operation remain preliminary at this stage. The number of persons involved, their affiliation and the outcome of the exchange of fire are yet to be confirmed by official sources. Independent verification of claims made during ongoing operations is generally not possible until the area is secured.

This report is based on information provided by officials at the time of writing. Figures and accounts may change as the operation progresses and as more information becomes available.