Udhampur: The Indian Army has reported the killing of a militant in an ongoing gunbattle with armed insurgents in the Basantgarh area of Udhampur district in Indian-administered Kashmir.
According to a statement from the Army, the encounter began on Thursday afternoon in the dense forests of Behali, where at least three other militants are believed to be holed up. A joint counterinsurgency operation was conducted, involving personnel from the Army’s 16 Corps and the Jammu and Kashmir Police.
Udhampur is considered one of the most sensitive districts in the Jammu region, as it houses the headquarters of the Indian Army's Northern Command.
Defense spokesperson Lt. Col. Sunil Bartwal said the operation was launched following intelligence inputs regarding the presence of four militants in the Behali area. When security forces attempted to cordon off the suspected hideout near Behali, the militants opened fire, triggering a gunfight.
“So far, one militant commander affiliated with the Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) group has been killed,” the spokesperson claimed.
The deceased militant was identified as ‘Maulvi’ and is believed to be a Pakistani national, according to the Army’s statement.
Security forces have intensified combing operations in the area amid fears of more militants in the vicinity. The operation remains ongoing.
