Confrontation in Udhampur before Amarnath Yatra, Army provides update

A clash occurred between security personnel and militants in the Kuru region of Basantgarh in Udhampur district on Thursday, merely a week before the Amarnath Yatra. The security forces disclosed details regarding the encounter, referred to as Operation Bihali, stating that the operation is presently happening in the location for which it is named. The meeting occurred during a collaborative effort by the Army and law enforcement.

“Op BIHALI. Based on specific intelligence, a joint operation was launched by #IndianArmy and@JmuKmrPolice in the Bihali area of #Basantgarh. Contact has been established with #terrorists. The #operation is currently in progress,” the White Knight Corps said in a post on the social media platform X.

The most recent meeting took place only a week prior to the commencement of the Amarnath Yatra, set to start on July 3. A significant crowd of pilgrims is anticipated to gather at the Amarnath cave shrine in the upcoming days during the Yatra period, concluding on August 9.

“The encounter started early in the morning, and the operation is going on,” said Bhim Sen Tuti, IGP Jammu Zone, while speaking to the mediapersons about the ongoing operation in Basantgarh.

Meanwhile, on Wednesday, Security forces conducted a joint mock drill at the Baltal base camp in Jammu and Kashmir’s Ganderbal in preparation for the upcoming Amarnath Yatra, scheduled to start on July 3.

The exercise was conducted under the supervision of the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Ganderbal.

The incident in the Bihali region of the Udhampur district occurs roughly two months following the dreadful terrorist attack on visitors in Pahalgam in April, resulting in 26 fatalities. This follows a month and a half after India initiated Operation Sindoor on May 7, aimed at disrupting terror infrastructure in PoK and the Punjab province of Pakistan. The operation targeted nine terrorism centers, resulting in the deaths of over 100 terrorists.