A para commando of the Indian Army was killed and two others injured on Thursday during an intense gunfight with terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir’s Udhampur district. The encounter took place in the Basantgarh area and comes just days after the deadly Pahalgam terror attack that claimed the lives of 26 tourists.
According to the Indian Army’s White Knight Corps, the slain soldier has been identified as Jhantu Ali Shaikh of the 6 Parachute Regiment (Special Forces). He was grievously injured in the initial exchange of fire and later succumbed to his wounds despite best efforts to save him.
“His indomitable courage and the valour of his team will never be forgotten. We stand in solidarity with the bereaved family in this moment of grief,” the White Knight Corps said in a post on social media platform X (formerly Twitter).
The Army confirmed that a joint anti-terror operation had been launched earlier in the day in collaboration with the Jammu and Kashmir Police. The action was based on specific intelligence inputs about the presence of militants in the forested terrain of Basantgarh.
“Contact was established and a fierce firefight ensued. One of our Bravehearts sustained grievous injuries in the initial exchange and later succumbed despite best medical efforts. Operations remain ongoing,” the statement read.
The ongoing operation in Udhampur follows a recent spate of terror-related incidents in the region. Just days earlier, terrorists armed with AK-47 rifles launched a brutal attack in the Baisaran meadow of Pahalgam, targeting unsuspecting tourists. The ambush led to the death of 26 people and triggered a massive security response.
Indian security agencies have since released sketches of three suspected terrorists believed to be behind the Pahalgam attack. They have been identified as Asif Fuji, Suleman Shah, and Abu Talha. Authorities suspect that five to six terrorists had emerged from the dense pine woods and carried out the assault.
A reward of Rs 20 lakh has been announced by the Jammu and Kashmir Police for anyone providing credible information that could lead to the arrest or neutralisation of the suspects.
In a separate but related development, Indian forces successfully foiled an infiltration attempt in the Baramulla district of Kashmir a day after the Pahalgam attack. Two militants were gunned down in a gunfight along the Line of Control.
“Heavy exchange of fire between security forces and terrorists, two terrorists have been eliminated, infiltration bid foiled in the ongoing operation. A large quantity of weapons, ammunition and other war-like stores have been recovered from the terrorists,” the Indian Army’s Chinar Corps said in a statement on X.
Security operations continue across Jammu and Kashmir as forces tighten their search for the perpetrators and step up surveillance to prevent further violence.
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