A long battle ended in the hills near Ramnagat-Basantgarh when soldiers moved into a rocky cave after more than a day of gunfire. Two fighters from Pakistan lost their lives, one said to lead part of Jaish-e-Mohammad, banned by authorities. This clash unfolded deep in Udhampur district under harsh conditions through night and morning. Troops closed in slowly until the final push came at dawn on Wednesday.
A name has surfaced among those killed – Rubani, sometimes called Abu Mavia or Avu Mavia, a top figure in JeM with years of presence in the area. The second militant, another citizen of Pakistan, died near the end of the mission. Gunfire flared heavily before loud blasts tore through the wooded landscape, ending both lives.
Officials say the suspects showed up Tuesday afternoon after tips came through from officers on the ground. Right away, based on those details, troops from the Indian Army teamed with Jammu and Kashmir Police alongside CRPF units to move into Jophar Forest near Basantgarh. By about 4 pm they had found them, which led straight into heavy gunfire breaking out between both sides.
When security teams sealed off the area, the militants tried slipping away by moving into a cave tucked far within the woods. As soldiers moved closer, big blasts rang out – proof the attackers had set off charges to slow progress. In that moment, at least one militant got hurt yet still fled deeper into the cavern, another at his side.
A mission called “Kiya” began under CIF Delta, part of the Army’s White Knight Corps. Because teamwork ran sharp between units, soldiers stopped militants from slipping away – officials noted how tightly every group moved together during the clash.
“Based on specific intelligence input, troops planned and executed a focused joint counter-terror operation in the general area of Jophar Forest, Basantgarh. Contact was established and maintained, and following a calibrated and coordinated response, two terrorists were successfully neutralised,” the White Knight Corps said in an official statement posted on X (formerly Twitter).
Floating just outside the cave entrance, a first militant’s remains signaled the start of what came next. Deep within its tunnels, investigators pulled out a second corpse, ending any doubt about the mission’s outcome. Weapons turned up everywhere – scattered, stashed, hidden. Among them: an M4 carbine sat beside an AK-type rifle, both waiting silently. Grenades rested nearby, along with boxes full of ammo and gear meant for prolonged fighting. What they uncovered showed how serious the danger had been.
Tension held firm into Tuesday evening, officials noted. By 7.30 pm, sharp bursts of gunfire erupted – followed by loud booms – as attackers tried slipping away during the dark. The military reacted quickly; extra troops arrived, among them trained jump soldiers and units working with detection dogs, tightening control around the site. Above it all, small flying cameras took position, scanning the woods and rocky opening nonstop.
Darkness settled, quiet apart from the steady watch kept by armed personnel. When dawn broke over the hills on Wednesday morning, soldiers moved in – execution precise, timing exact – for one last push into the cave stronghold. With daylight came confirmation: mission complete. Even so, military sources emphasized ongoing observation of the zone, just in case traces remain active beneath the surface.
Mid-December saw another serious shootout in Udhampur district, following one where a police officer died near Soan village. That first clash ended with militants vanishing into thick woods under cover of night. Weeks afterward, authorities identified Usman – a senior JeM operative born in Pakistan – as linked to the attackers; he broke away after the village skirmish. His death in Kathua came in early January.
Early this year, Jammu saw more anti-terrorism actions than before. During January, troops clashed with armed groups multiple times – three incidents happened in Kathua, while others unfolded across the wooded areas of Chatroo in Kishtwar. Fighting ended some militant threats, though one operation took the life of a soldier from India’s airborne unit in Kishtwar.
A top commander’s death has shaken a militant group’s hold near Jammu, officials claim.
Though quiet for months, his role was deeply tied to movement across borders. With him gone, missions once in motion may now stall. The absence leaves gaps in coordination that could slow future actions. Not every loss carries such weight – this one does.
Hunters keep pushing into the mountains of Jammu and Kashmir, chasing those still on the run. Sharp moves, tight teamwork, clear planning – this win shows what careful work can do, say voices close to the mission. Watchfulness won’t fade anytime soon, they note, as eyes stay fixed on hidden threats.
