after-udhampur-clash-security-forces-hunt-in-dense-woods

A search and cordon operation is underway in the rugged terrain of Marta village in Jammu and Kashmir’s Udhampur district, following a brief but intense encounter between security forces and militants on Wednesday.

 

Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Udhampur, Amod Ashok Nagpure, confirmed that two to three militants were believed to be holed up deep within a dense forest patch surrounded by mountainous terrain and a river gorge.

 

“This is a very inaccessible area due to the high mountains, a river below, and a dense forest. We have the information that two to three terrorists are hiding in the middle of this jungle. This search operation is going on in this regard,” SSP Nagpure said, providing an update on the operation.

 

The encounter, which erupted during a joint operation conducted by the Jammu and Kashmir Police and other security agencies, lasted for nearly two hours before the militants melted back into the forest cover.

 

Despite the difficult topography and dense vegetation, Nagpure emphasised the high morale and preparedness of the security personnel involved.

 

“Currently, all the soldiers of all the forces and teams are fit and fine,” he added, underlining the physical resilience of the troops deployed in the high-stakes operation.

 

The gunfight reportedly took place in the forested village of Jopher, falling under the jurisdiction of the Ramnagar Police Station. Officials said the gunfire erupted during a combing operation, which was part of a larger anti-terror drive initiated across the district.

 

Preliminary inputs suggest that at least two to three militants are trapped in the area. Security forces have since cordoned off the entire zone to prevent the suspected militants from escaping.

 

“The area has been sealed off completely, and the operation is continuing to neutralise the militants,” officials said.

 

Reinforcements were rushed to the site, and specialised units are combing the region using advanced surveillance equipment to track movement in the thick forest.

 

The operation comes amid heightened security alerts across Jammu and Kashmir in the lead-up to the Lok Sabha elections. Forces remain on high alert across the Union Territory, especially in regions with a known history of infiltration and militant presence.

 

As of Thursday morning, the search was still underway with no fresh exchange of fire reported. Security personnel have tightened their grip around potential exit routes in the forested valley.