2 terrorists killed in late-night gunfight with security forces in J&K's Udhampur

Two terrorists were killed in a late-night gunfight with security forces in Jammu and Kashmir's Udhampur district. The terrorists are believed to be from Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM)'s proxy outfit, Kashmir Tigers. Security forces are conducting a search and combing operation in the area.

In Short

• Gunbattle erupts between terrorists, security forces in Udhampur
• Killed terrorists believed to be from Jaish proxy Kashmir Tigers
• Search and combing ops underway; terrorists' identities being ascertained

Two terrorists were killed in a late-night gunfight with security forces in Jammu and Kashmir's Udhampur district, officials said on Thursday. The terrorists are believed to be associated with the Kashmir Tigers, a proxy outfit of Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM), and their identities are being ascertained.

The gunfight took place in the Majalta area after security forces launched a major cordon and search operation following inputs about the suspicious movement of terrorists in the forested area.

According to sources, the movements of the terrorists had been tracked in the forest area, which has been a favoured transit route for JeM-linked groups. A heavy exchange of fire followed after security forces closed in on the terrorists.

The bodies of two terrorists, believed to be foreigners, were recovered in the early hours of Thursday. Arms and ammunition were also seized from their possession.

The joint operation was carried out by the Rashtriya Rifles, Para (Special Forces) and the Jammu and Kashmir Police.

A search and combing operation remains underway in the area, with additional troops being mobilised to track down any other terrorists who may be hiding in the forests.

"In a joint intelligence-based operation during the intervening night of 16/17 Sep 2026, confirmed inputs indicated the presence of terrorists in the general area of Brattal, Udhampur. Despite hostile weather, difficult terrain and poor visibility, troops of #WhiteKnightCorps, @JmuKmrPolice and CRPF launched a targeted counter-terrorism operation, resulting in the neutralisation of two terrorists," White Knight Corps wrote on X.

"The operation is still in progress, with search and surveillance operations continuing in the area. Security forces remain deployed to track and neutralise any remaining threat," it said.

The Majalta area has witnessed several anti-terror operations in recent years. In February this year, two suspected JeM terrorists were also killed in a similar operation in the area.

DAYS BEFORE, LET COMMANDER KILLED

The Udhampur gunfight came days after a Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) commander from Pakistan was gunned down in central Kashmir's Budgam district on September 5.

The terrorist, identified as Yasir, was associated with the larger Sulaiman Musa group of Lashkar-e-Taiba but had reportedly split from the group nearly a year earlier and was operating separately, according to sources.

Security agencies had been tracking Yasir's movements and monitoring his activities in the Yousmarg area of Budgam before the gunfight.

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