Udhampur (Rajeev Sharma): A soldier lost his life during a fierce gunbattle in the upper forested belt of Jammu and Kashmir’s Udhampur district, as security forces intensified a search operation to flush out hiding militants. The incident occurred late Friday evening in the Seoj Dhar forest region, near the Dudu-Basantgarh area, bordering Bhaderwah in Doda district.
Officials confirmed that the soldier, who sustained critical injuries during the exchange of fire, was immediately shifted to a medical facility but succumbed to his wounds early Saturday. His identity has not yet been released pending family notification.
Hunt for Militants Enters Second Day
The joint operation, being carried out by the Indian Army and the Special Operations Group (SOG) of Jammu and Kashmir Police, resumed at first light today. Security forces had maintained a tight perimeter around the encounter site overnight to prevent the militants from fleeing under cover of darkness.
Initial intelligence inputs suggest the presence of 2–3 armed militants in the area. Given the difficult terrain and dense forest cover, the operation is being carried out with extreme caution.
Drones, K9 Units Deployed for Ground Surveillance
To bolster the search, aerial surveillance drones and sniffer dog squads have been deployed from both Udhampur and Doda sides, enabling the forces to scan inaccessible stretches of the forest.
A senior police officer said, “The terrain is challenging, and visibility is low due to thick foliage. However, we are confident the suspects are still within the cordoned zone.”
Strategic Importance of Region
The Seoj Dhar-Dudu-Basantgarh belt lies along a vulnerable axis that has seen sporadic militant movement in recent years. With winter approaching, intelligence agencies had flagged the possibility of fresh infiltrations, prompting an increase in area domination patrols.
