A fierce gunbattle erupted on Thursday morning between security forces and terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir&rsquo;s Udhampur district. The clash broke out during a cordon and search operation (CASO) launched in the Basantgarh area following reports of suspicious movement.
Security officials confirmed that the forces came under heavy automatic gunfire, prompting a swift retaliatory response. The exchange of fire triggered a full-scale encounter, which is currently ongoing. Reinforcements have been rushed to the area to assist the operation.
The incident comes amid heightened alert across Jammu and Kashmir, especially after the deadly April 22 attack in Pahalgam where Pakistan-backed Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists killed 26 civilians in the Baisaran meadow.
In preparation for the upcoming Amarnath Yatra, which begins on July 3 and concludes on August 9, security has been intensified. Additional personnel from BSF, CRPF, and SSB have been deployed to ensure the safety of pilgrims.
The Yatra will proceed via two main routes &mdash; the traditional Pahalgam route and the shorter Baltal route &mdash; to the sacred cave shrine situated at an altitude of 3,888 metres in the Kashmir Himalayas.
On Wednesday, a full-scale security drill was conducted across all districts on the Yatra routes. Security forces are currently dominating mountaintops to prevent terrorist infiltration into the hinterland.
Transit camps and two major base camps &mdash; Baltal in Ganderbal and Nunwan in Anantnag &mdash; have been secured as part of the safety measures.
Ensuring a safe and peaceful Amarnath Yatra remains a top priority for security agencies, especially in the current climate of Indo-Pak tensions. [Except for the headline, this article has not been edited by the Benefit News editorial team and is published directly from the IANS news feed]

Security forces clash with terrorists during early morning operation in Basantgarh area

Gunfight Erupts in J&K’s Udhampur

Security forces clash with terrorists during early morning operation in Basantgarh area

June 26, 2025 | 12:18 IST