2 terrorists killed in Udhampur encounter: Army

Jammu, Sep 11: Two unidentified terrorists were killed in an ongoing encounter with security forces at Khandara Top in the Basantgarh area of Udhampur district, the Army said on Wednesday.

However, the operation continued as the security forces apprehended that there would be one or more terrorists, still hiding in dense forests.

The area, where the operation is going on in the Basantgarh area of Udhampur, shares the border with Kathua district.

One Village Defence Guard was killed by terrorists in the same area on April 28.

Earlier, this morning an encounter began when the hiding terrorists opened fire on security forces, engaged in a joint search operation launched by the Army and the Police, on a specific input about their (terrorists’) presence.

The fire was retaliated by security forces in an equal measure. Following an intense exchange of gunfire between the two sides that continued for a few hours, two terrorists were killed.

The Army's Rising Star Corps confirmed the killing of terrorists on ‘X.’

“Two terrorists were neutralised in the ongoing Operation at Khandara, Kathua by troops of Rising Star Corps. Operation in progress,” it posted on ‘X’, this evening.

Before it, PRO Defence Lt Col Suneel Bartwal stated, “Based on specific intelligence, an operation was launched in Kathua-Basantgarh border with the terrorists. Operation is under progress.”

J&K Police also issued a statement on similar lines.

“Based on specific intelligence about the presence of terrorists, a joint search operation was launched by security forces in the area of Basantgarh Police Station. Contact has been established and a few rounds have been fired from both sides. Area cordoned off,” a Police spokesman said.

Speaking to the media, Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Udhampur-Reasi range Muhammad Rayees Bhat said, “Three to four terrorists are believed to be hiding in the area. Intense operation is on to hunt them down.”

Within two days, security forces achieved a second success as on September 9, two terrorists were killed on the Line of Control in the Nowshera area of Rajouri district.