A soldier was killed on Thursday in a gunfight with terrorists after security forces established contact with militants hiding in the Basantgarh area of Udhampur district, Jammu and Kashmir. The Army’s White Knight Corps confirmed that the soldier, who was grievously injured during the firefight, succumbed to his injuries despite efforts to provide medical assistance.
The operation, which was launched based on specific intelligence, was a joint effort by the Indian Army and Jammu and Kashmir Police. “Contact was established and a fierce firefight ensued. One of our Bravehearts sustained grievous injuries in the initial exchange and later succumbed despite best medical efforts. Operations remain ongoing,” the White Knight Corps said on X (formerly Twitter).
The attack took place just a day after Indian security agencies released sketches of three suspected terrorists – Asif Fuji, Suleman Shah, and Abu Talha – believed to be responsible for the terror attack in Pahalgam that left 26 tourists dead. These terrorists are reportedly connected to The Resistance Front (TRF), a militant group that has claimed responsibility for the Pahalgam attack.
In the aftermath of the attack, a massive manhunt has been launched to locate the five to six terrorists who emerged from the pine woods and opened fire on unsuspecting tourists in the Baisaran meadow with AK-47 rifles. The Jammu and Kashmir Police have offered a cash reward of Rs 20 lakh for anyone providing credible information leading to the capture of the militants involved.
