Top Jaish Commander Code-named ‘Maulvi’ Killed in Udhampur Encounter

New Delhi: The Indian Army and Jammu and Kashmir Police killed a terrorist in the Basantgarh area of Udhampur district. The operation, codenamed Operation Bihali, is still underway, according to the Army’s White Knight Corps.

Officials said the encounter began after security forces received specific intelligence inputs regarding terrorist presence in the region. The area was quickly cordoned off, and a gunbattle ensued, leading to the killing of one terrorist. The identity and affiliation of the slain militant have not been disclosed yet.

The operation comes just days before the annual Amarnath Yatra is scheduled to begin on July 3. In anticipation of potential threats, security across Jammu and Kashmir has been heightened. 

Around 180 companies of central armed police forces have been deployed across sensitive zones.

The 38-day-long pilgrimage to the 3,880-meter-high Amarnath shrine in the south Kashmir Himalayas will commence from two routes the 48-km traditional Pahalgam route in Anantnag and the steeper, 14-km Baltal route in Ganderbal district.

On May 22, a soldier was killed in action during an encounter with four terrorists in Kishtwar. That incident occurred just a week after six terrorists were gunned down in south Kashmir.

Security forces have ramped up operations following the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, in which 26 people were killed.

In retaliation, India launched Operation Sindoor, targeting nine major terror bases across Pakistan.