JK: Two Terrorists Neutralised in Encounter with Security Forces at Basantgarh in Udhampur

An encounter broke out between security forces and a group of militants in the Basantgarh area of Jammu and Kashmir. Troops of Rising Star Corps neutralised several terrorists in the operation which is in progress. The identity of the deceased terrorists is being ascertained, the army said.

Jammu (Jammu and Kashmir): Two terrorists were neutralised in an encounter that started between the security forces and a group of militants in the Basantgarh area in the Udhampur district of Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday, officials said.

The army said that the two unidentified militants have been killed in ongoing operation. The search operation is still underway in the area, army said in a tweet. The identity of the deceased terrorists is being ascertained.

The gun battle between the two sides started after the security forces established contact with the group of militants, who were hiding in the higher reaches of the Khandara area of Basantgarh and cornered them in the forests.

Jammu Defence PRO Lt Col Suneel Bartwal said that based on specific intelligence an operation was launched in Kathua.

"Contact has been established at the Kathua-Basantgarh border with the terrorists. The operation is underway and further details are being ascertained," Bartwal said.

Udhampur is one of the mountainous districts of the Jammu division where foreign militants have been reported to be hiding in the dense forests and for the past few months several times Militants fled from the encounter sites.

The PRO added that based on specific intelligence about the presence of terrorists, a joint search operation was launched by security forces in the area of Basantgarh Police Station.

"Contact has been established and a few rounds have been fired from both sides. The entire area has been cordoned off," the PRO said in the statement.