An encounter broke out between terrorists and security forces on Thursday in a remote forest area of Jammu and Kashmir’s Udhampur district, news agency PTI reported citing the Indian Army.
The encounter happened during a joint operation by the Army and police in the Bihali area of Basantgarh. Security forces managed to locate and engage with the terrorists, and the operation is still ongoing. The Army’s White Knight Corps wrote on social media that “Operation Bihali” is underway.
The post further said, “based on specific intelligence, a joint operation was launched by the Indian Army and Jammu & Kashmir Police in Bihali area of Basantgarh. Contact has been established with terrorists. The operation is in progress.”
After the deadly April 22 attack on tourists in Pahalgam, security forces in Jammu and Kashmir have stepped up their operations against terrorists and those found to be helping them.
Pakistani terrorists had opened fire in the popular tourist area of South Kashmir, killing 25 tourists and one local resident.
Since then, several encounters have taken place across the Union Territory as forces try to track down those responsible and stop further militant activity.
The investigation made major progress on Sunday when two local men were arrested for allegedly hiding the attackers. The NIA also confirmed that all three gunmen were from Pakistan.
(This is a developing story. More details will be added.)