Udhampur , feb 4 : Security forces are preparing for a final assault on two Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) terrorists hiding inside a natural cave in the Udhampur district of Jammu and Kashmir. Officials said there was no exchange of fire overnight as forces maintained a tight cordon around the area.
The terrorists were traced to a cave in the Jaffer forest area of Ramnagar on Tuesday afternoon, following an intelligence-based joint search operation by the Army, Jammu and Kashmir Police, and the Central Reserve Police Force. Contact was established around 4 pm, leading to an intense gunfight that lasted for over an hour.
Officials said one of the terrorists was injured during the encounter but managed to retreat into the cave along with his associate.
A fresh exchange of fire broke out around 7.30 pm when the terrorists allegedly attempted to escape under the cover of darkness. Security forces responded, and additional Army reinforcements, including paratroopers and dog squads, were deployed to further tighten the cordon.
The night passed without further firing, with forces maintaining strict surveillance around the cave using drones and other monitoring equipment. Officials said the terrorists have so far refused to surrender.
Preparations are now underway for a final operation to neutralise the militants and bring the encounter to a conclusion, while ensuring the safety of troops and civilians in the area.
