An intense encounter erupted on Thursday morning near Basantgarh in Jammu and Kashmir’s Udhampur district, where security forces launched a search operation based on fresh intelligence inputs. Joint teams of the Indian Army and Jammu and Kashmir Police were conducting the operation when contact was established with militants, leading to a fierce exchange of fire. This comes just two days after the Pahalgam terror attack that claimed the lives of 25 tourists and a local pony handler, further intensifying the security alert across the region.

During the initial exchange of gunfire in Udhampur, Havildar Jhantu Ali Shaikh of the elite 6 PARA Special Forces sustained critical injuries. Despite immediate medical attention, he succumbed to his wounds, marking a tragic loss for the forces. The Army, in an official statement, acknowledged his bravery and sacrifice, confirming that the firefight was part of a larger operation aimed at flushing out militants suspected to have infiltrated the area. This encounter follows another operation in the Uri sector of Baramulla district a day prior, where troops successfully foiled an infiltration attempt, killing two militants as they tried to cross into the Valley.

These heightened counter-insurgency operations reflect the mounting concern within security circles following the Pahalgam massacre, which has not only shocked the nation but also triggered a high-level political response. The central government has called for an all-party meeting chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to brief political leaders on ongoing investigations. Early assessments suggest that the Pahalgam attack might have received external support, reigniting worries about cross-border terrorism and leading to increased vigilance along the Line of Control and across Jammu and Kashmir.