Security forces continued the search operation in Basantgarh forest area of Udhampur for the third consecutive day on Saturday to track down the three Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) terrorists hiding in the dense forest area.
“The cordon and search operation continued for the third day in Basantgarh forest area of Udhampur today. The operation is being jointly carried out by army, police and paramilitary forces,” a security official said.
A JeM terrorist was killed in an encounter with security forces on Thursday while three of his associates remain trapped in the forest area of the Basantgarh belt.
Since Thursday, the security forces are searching for the three terrorists hiding in the forest area.
The official said the search operation has been widened by the security forces and drones and sniffer dogs are being used to track down the hiding terrorists.
“The cordon has been further strengthened with additional reinforcements to trace the terrorists, the officials added.
Inspector General of Police Bhim Sen Tuti said the terrorists are reported to be still within the cordoned off area.
He said out of the four terrorists, one — the commander of the group — has been killed.
The deceased terrorist has been identified as Haider alias Jabbar alias Maulvi from Pakistan.
The group had been tracked for over a year.
Two terrorists affiliated with JeM from this group were killed in an encounter in Basantgarh in September last year.
It is suspected that a local terrorist, who had returned from Pakistan after several years, is actively supporting the group.
“The search by troops led to the recovery of the body of the killed terrorist along with ammunition, explosive material, and cash, “the officials said.
Basantgarh lies on a traditional infiltration route used by Pakistani terrorists who enter from the International Border in Kathua and move via the higher reaches to Doda and Kishtwar districts in Jammu region and further into the Kashmir Valley. It has witnessed several encounters and terror incidents in the past.