An Indian Army soldier tragically lost his life during a fierce gunfight with suspected Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) militants in the Dudu Basantgarh heights of Udhampur district.
Acting on specific intelligence, joint teams from the Army, Special Operations Group (SOG), and local police launched a coordinated operation to neutralize the threat.
The encounter began late Friday night when security forces established contact with three to four terrorists believed to be hiding in the rugged terrain. The operation, initially thought to span both Udhampur and Kishtwar districts, was later confirmed to be confined to Udhampur.
During the exchange of fire, one Army jawan sustained critical injuries and later succumbed at the hospital. The operation remains ongoing as forces continue to comb the area for remaining militants.
This incident follows a series of similar confrontations in the region, including the elimination of top JeM commander Haider in June and another fatal encounter in April. Authorities remain on high alert, emphasizing their commitment to rooting out terrorism from the region.
