Fierce encounter underway in Basantgarh; joint operation launched on intelligence input
An Army sergeant was killed in a fierce gunfight with militants in the Basantgarh area of Jammu and Kashmir’s Udhampur district on Thursday morning. The encounter, which began early in the day, was ongoing at the time of filing this report.
The Army’s Nagrota-based 16 Corps, also known as the White Knight Corps, said in a post on X (formerly Twitter) that the operation was launched jointly with the Jammu and Kashmir Police based on specific intelligence inputs. “Contact was established, and a fierce firefight ensued,” it said.
Havildar Jhantu Ali Shaikh of the 6th PARA Special Forces sustained grievous injuries during the initial exchange of fire and later succumbed, 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,” the Army stated.
Meanwhile, the massive search operation continued for the third consecutive day on Thursday in the Baisaran meadow near Pahalgam, where militants carried out a deadly attack on Tuesday. So far, no arrests have been made.
In a related development, security forces in north Kashmir’s Bandipora district detained four suspected overground workers (OGWs) of the banned Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) outfit. The police said credible intelligence indicated a plot to target security personnel and non-locals in the region.
Two suspects, Muhammad Rafiq Khanday and Mukhtar Ahmad Dar, were arrested at a joint checkpoint, where two Chinese grenades, a 7.62 mm magazine, and 30 rounds of ammunition were recovered. Two more suspects, Rayees Ahmed Dar and Muhammad Shafi Dar, were held at another checkpoint in Sadunara Ajas, with additional arms and ammunition seized.
Two FIRs under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) have been registered at the Sumbal police station, and further investigations are underway. The police said the accused admitted to being LeT associates and were directed to target security forces and civilians in several areas of Bandipora.
