Just days ahead of the annual Amarnath Yatra, an encounter broke out between security forces and terrorists in the Kuru area of Basantgarh, Udhampur district, early Thursday morning. The joint operation, codenamed Operation Bihali, was launched by the Indian Army and Jammu and Kashmir Police following specific intelligence inputs. The White Knight Corps confirmed the active engagement via social media, stating, “Contact has been established with terrorists. The operation is currently in progress.”

The encounter comes at a sensitive time, with the Amarnath Yatra set to begin on July 3 and expected to draw thousands of pilgrims to the cave shrine. Inspector General of Police (IGP) Jammu Zone, Bhim Sen Tuti, confirmed that the operation began early in the day and remains ongoing. To ensure the safety of pilgrims, security forces have intensified monitoring and tactical readiness in the region. Just a day before the encounter, a high-level mock drill was conducted at the Baltal base camp in Ganderbal under the supervision of the SSP to prepare for the Yatra.

This latest counter-terror action follows heightened tensions in Jammu and Kashmir, coming nearly two months after the Pahalgam terror attack in April that killed 26, and about six weeks after India’s Operation Sindoor on May 7. That operation targeted nine terror hubs across Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and Punjab, reportedly eliminating over 100 terrorists. With Operation Bihali now underway in Udhampur, security forces are continuing their proactive approach to neutralize threats before the pilgrimage season intensifies. Authorities have reinforced that every effort is being made to ensure a secure environment for the Amarnath Yatra, which concludes on August 9.