Soldier Killed In Action During Encounter With Terrorists In J&K's Udhampur

An Army soldier has been killed in action after security forces and terrorists exchanged fire in Jammu and Kashmir's Udhampur district on Thursday, officials said.

The firing took place in the Dudu-Basantgarh area during a cordon and search operation launched based on information about the presence of terrorists, they said.

"GOC (General Officer Commanding), White Knight Corps and all ranks salute braveheart Havildar Jhantu Ali Shaikh of 6 PARA SF, who made the supreme sacrifice during a counter terror operation. His indomitable courage and the valour of his team will never be forgotten. We stand in solidarity with the bereaved family in this moment of grief," the Army's Jammu-based White Knight Corps posted on X.

#GOC #WhiteKnightCorps and all ranks salute #Braveheart Hav Jhantu Ali Shaikh of 6 PARA SF, who made the supreme #sacrifice during a counter #terror #operation.

His indomitable courage and the valour of his team will never be forgotten.

We stand in solidarity with the bereaved… pic.twitter.com/BzogemMct9

— White Knight Corps (@Whiteknight_IA) April 24, 2025

The encounter broke out two days after twenty-six people were killed as terrorists opened fire on tourists in Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir's Anantnag district.

An officer from the Navy, an Air Force staff and another from the Intelligence Bureau were among the victims of the attack, the worst terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir in recent times.

India on Wednesday then downgraded diplomatic ties with Pakistan and announced some strict measures, including expulsion of Pakistani military attaches, suspension of the over six-decade-old Indus Water Treaty and immediate shutting down of the Attari land-transit post, in view of the "cross-border links" to the Pahalgam terror attack.

The measures were announced after the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, held a meeting and directed the security forces to maintain "high vigil" and resolved to bring the perpetrators of the crime to justice.