A soldier of the Indian Army was martyred during a fierce encounter between security forces and terrorists in the Dudu Basantgarh area of Udhampur district, Jammu and Kashmir, on Thursday, officials confirmed.
The Jammu and Kashmir Police said the encounter broke out early Thursday, marking a fresh escalation in militant activity in the otherwise peaceful region of Udhampur. The identity of the martyred jawan has not been officially disclosed yet.
#GOC #WhiteKnightCorps and all ranks salute #Braveheart Hav Jhantu Ali Shaikh of 6 PARA SF, who made the supreme #sacrifice during a counter #terror #operation.
His indomitable courage and the valour of his team will never be forgotten.
We stand in solidarity with the bereaved… pic.twitter.com/BzogemMct9
— White Knight Corps (@Whiteknight_IA) April 24, 2025
Parallel Operation in Poonch Enters 10th Day
Meanwhile, in a parallel counter-terror operation, the Romeo Force of the Indian Army and the Special Operations Group (SOG) continued their joint search mission for the 10th consecutive day in the forests of Lasana in Poonch district.
The operation, which began after a gunfight on April 14, has seen heightened activity with cordon and search operations in the dense forests believed to be sheltering militants.
According to officials, terrorists opened fire on security personnel during the operation near Lasana village, injuring at least one jawan.
The incident took place near the National Highway linking Poonch to Jammu, a route now under enhanced surveillance and strict movement protocols.
Bar Council of India Calls for Decisive Action After Tragic Terror Attack in Pahalgam
Security Alert on Key Highways
Security forces have tightened patrols and checkpoints on the Jammu-Rajouri-Poonch Highway (NH-144) in response to these developments, a known infiltration and escape route often used by terrorists operating across the Pir Panjal region.
With back-to-back encounters and a ten-day-long manhunt ongoing, the situation in the Rajouri-Poonch-Udhampur belt remains tense, prompting increased vigilance and intelligence coordination.
