Jammu, February 4, 2026 : Two Pakistani terrorists, including a top commander of the Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) outfit, were killed on Wednesday after security forces stormed a cave in Udhampur district of Jammu and Kashmir, officials said.
The slain terrorists were trapped inside a cave in the Jophar Forest area of Basantgarh, where several powerful explosions were heard around noon as forces launched the final assault. One of the killed militants has been identified as Rubani alias Abu Mavia, a senior JeM commander who had been active in the region for several years.
According to officials, the body of one terrorist was found near the mouth of the cave, while the second was recovered from deep inside. A large cache of arms and ammunition, including an M4 carbine and an AK assault rifle, was seized from the site.
The encounter followed an over 20-hour-long joint operation, codenamed “Operation Kiya”, involving the Army, J&K Police and CRPF. The terrorists were first located on Tuesday evening during intensified search operations in the higher reaches of the Ramnagar–Basantgarh belt, triggering a fierce gunfight.
The Army’s White Knight Corps said the operation was launched based on specific intelligence inputs provided by the police.
“After establishing contact, terrorists were prevented from breaking away. Following a calibrated and coordinated response, two terrorists were successfully neutralised, showcasing seamless inter-agency coordination and high professionalism,” the Corps said in a post on X, adding that the area remains under surveillance.
Officials said intense gunfire and explosions rocked the Jaffer, Gujrada and Chigla Balotha forests initially, injuring one terrorist who, along with his associate, retreated into the cave. Another brief exchange of fire occurred around 7:30 pm when the militants attempted to escape under the cover of darkness. Paratroopers and dog squads were rushed in to tighten the cordon, while drones were used overnight to maintain surveillance.
This was the second encounter in Udhampur since December 15, when a policeman was killed at Soan village, though terrorists had managed to escape then. Officials said the group eliminated in Udhampur was the same module involved in that incident.
The operation comes amid a series of encounters across the Jammu region in recent months, including in Kathua and Kishtwar, where intensified anti-terror operations have led to the elimination of several militants, including top JeM terrorist Usman of Pakistan in January.
