Operation KIYA: Exclusive Video Shows Blast in Cave Hideout Used by Pakistani Jaish Terrorists - Watch

A video from the encounter site show a rocky cave deep inside the forested Basantgarh area of Jammu and Kashmir’s Udhampur district, which officials said was used as a hideout by two top Jaish-e-Mohammad terrorists killed in a joint counterterrorism operation by Indian security forces.The operation, codenamed KIYA, was launched in the forested Basantgarh area following specific intelligence inputs and concluded after more than 20 hours of surveillance and combat. The terrorists were hiding inside a cave in the Jophar forest when they were neutralised.The two slain terrorists were identified as Rubani alias Abu Mavia and Zubair, both described as self-styled top commanders of Jaish-e-Mohammad. Both were Pakistani nationals. Along with arms, ammunition

and steel bullets recovered from the scene.Watch the video:

Army

The encounter began Tuesday after joint teams of the Army, Jammu and Kashmir Police, and the Central Reserve Police Force detected militant movement in the higher reaches of the Ramnagar-Basantgarh belt. A fierce exchange of fire followed, forcing the terrorists to retreat into the cave.

“Based on specific intelligence input provided by police, troops of Counter-Intelligence Force Delta, White Knight Corps planned and executed a focused joint counter-terror operation in the general area of Jophar Forest, Basantgarh in coordination with police and CRPF reinforcing the cordon, ensuring effective area domination to prevent escape of terrorists.Contact with terrorists was established yesterday and since then, terrorists were prevented from breaking contact. Following a calibrated and coordinated response, two terrorists have been successfully neutralised. The operation highlighted seamless inter-agency coordination, tactical precision and high standards of professionalism,” the Army’s White Knight Corps said.Several loud explosions were heard during the final assault on Wednesday. One terrorist's body was found near the cave entrance, while the other was recovered from inside. Officials said the area remains under surveillance.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7543TeQQuq8

This was the second encounter in Udhampur since December 15 when a policeman was killed in an encounter at Soan village. However, the terrorists had managed to escape taking advantage of thick foliage and darkness.A series of encounters -- three in Kathua district and four in Chatroo forest belt in Kishtwar --also occurred in January, resulting in the killing of top JeM terrorist, Usman of Pakistan, in Kathua and a paratrooper in Kishtwar amid intensified operations to hunt down terrorists hiding in the upper reaches of Jammu region.