A tense gunbattle reignited in Jammu and Kashmir’s Udhampur district on Thursday morning as security forces clashed anew with terrorists in the Joffar area, officials confirmed.

The encounter, which erupted Wednesday under Ramnagar police station limits, saw joint forces tighten their cordon overnight to block any escape under darkness.

A local tipped off authorities, revealing that three terrorists in black had entered his home at 8 p.m. Wednesday, fleeing by 11:30 p.m. as the operation closed in. “When our teams moved in, the terrorists opened fire, triggering an ongoing firefight,” an official said.

The operation mirrors a broader crackdown following a March 23 encounter in Kathua’s Sanyal village, just 4 km from the International Border, which spilled into Safiyan Jakhole. There, two terrorists were killed, but four policemen lost their lives.

Reports indicate five terrorists had infiltrated from across the border, with the same group likely involved in the Kathua clashes. Two were neutralized in Safiyan Jakhole, while a “seek and destroy” mission extended into Kathua and Rajouri’s higher reaches, including a brief exchange in Billawar. The Udhampur encounter, now stretching into its second day, underscores the region’s volatile security landscape.

The operation follows Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s recent Srinagar review, where he ordered the “complete eradication” of terrorism in J&K. With Assembly polls looming, the joint forces—bolstered by Shah’s directive—are under pressure to restore peace. As firing continues in Joffar, the hunt for the remaining terrorists signals a relentless push to secure the Union Territory.