An anti-terror operation in Jammu and Kashmir’s Udhampur district entered its second day on Tuesday as security forces continued their search for militants believed to be hiding in forested terrain near Sohan village in the Majalta area.
The encounter began on Monday evening following intelligence inputs about the presence of terrorists in the region. According to official sources, intermittent firing continued into Tuesday morning, during which two personnel from the Jammu and Kashmir Police’s Special Operations Group (SOG) sustained injuries. Both were evacuated for medical treatment.
Security officials said at least three terrorists are suspected to be holed up in the dense forest. One militant, believed to be linked to the Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), was shot during the exchange of fire on Monday night. However, there has been no official confirmation regarding his death so far.
Authorities have sealed the entire area, with multiple layers of security deployed to prevent any escape. All possible exit routes have been blocked as joint teams of the Indian Army and J&K Police continue combing operations. The White Knight Corps confirmed that contact was established during an intelligence-based operation involving SOG units and Army troops, adding that the operation remains ongoing.
SOG jawan Amjad Pathan martyred in action
Amid the continuing operation, the district mourned the loss of SOG jawan Amjad Pathan, who was martyred during the encounter on Monday. A wreath-laying ceremony was held at the District Police Lines in Udhampur on Tuesday to honour his sacrifice.
Senior officials, including Jammu and Kashmir Director General of Police Nalin Prabhat and Inspector General of Police (Jammu Zone) Bhim Sen Tuti, attended the ceremony. Officers from the CRPF, senior police leadership, and district administration representatives also paid floral tributes to the fallen jawan.
Amjad Pathan hailed from Mendhar tehsil in Poonch district. He was part of the SOG team that first established contact with the terrorists in the Sohan forest area.
Deputy Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Surinder Choudhary, paid tribute to the martyred commando, describing his sacrifice as an enduring example of courage and duty. In a post on X, Choudhary said Pathan’s bravery and dedication to protecting the nation would never be forgotten.
Former Jammu and Kashmir DGP Shesh Paul Vaid also expressed grief, extending condolences to the jawan’s family and acknowledging his role in counter-terror operations. He noted that two additional SOG personnel were injured in the gunfight.
The Jammu and Kashmir Police formally acknowledged Pathan’s sacrifice, stating that he laid down his life while combating terrorists in the forest area of Udhampur. The force said it stood with the family in their moment of grief and saluted the jawan’s supreme sacrifice.
As the operation continues, security forces remain on high alert across the district. Officials have reiterated that the mission will continue until the area is fully sanitised and all threats neutralised.
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