Published: 4 February 2026Business Standard / Organiser / Deccan Herald / Zee NewsGovernance
Operation Kiya: Two JeM Terrorists Killed in 20-Hour Encounter at Basantgarh, Udhampur (J&K)
On February 4–5, 2026, a joint counter-terrorism operation codenamed 'Operation Kiya' was conducted in the Basantgarh area of Udhampur district, Jammu and Kashmir. The operation was launched following specific intelligence inputs and was jointly executed by the Counter-Insurgency Force (CIF) Delta, White Knight Corps of the Indian Army, J&K Police, and the CRPF.
Contact was established with the terrorists on February 3 at around 4 PM in the Jophar Forest area. A fierce 20-hour encounter followed, with troops cornering two terrorists inside a cave in dense forest terrain. Both terrorists were neutralised. One of the slain terrorists was identified as Rubani alias Abu Mavia, described as a top commander of the Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) outfit active in the region for several years. A significant cache of arms and ammunition — including an M4 carbine and an AK-series assault rifle — was recovered.
The operation came close on the heels of the Pahalgam terror attack and is significant in the context of India's firm stance against Pakistani-sponsored terrorism, as reaffirmed in the January 31 New Delhi Declaration. Operation Kiya is being seen as a demonstration of the Indian security apparatus's ability to act on precise intelligence in difficult terrain.
Mains angle
Q: Analyse the operational significance of Operation Kiya in India's counter-terrorism strategy and joint security coordination in Jammu and Kashmir.
Answer (50 words):
Operation Kiya was a 20-hour joint operation by Indian Army, J&K Police, and CRPF on February 4-5, 2026 in Basantgarh forest, Udhampur district. Two Jaish-e-Mohammad terrorists including top commander Rubani alias Abu Mavia were neutralised. An M4 carbine and AK rifle were recovered, demonstrating effective intelligence-based counter-terrorism coordination.
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Practice MCQ from this story
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Linked questionMedium
Operation Kiya, in which two JeM terrorists were eliminated, took place in which district?
Explanation · Correct answer COperation Kiya took place at Basantgarh in Udhampur district of Jammu and Kashmir where two JeM terrorists were killed in a 20-hour encounter.
Frequently asked questions
What was Operation Kiya and where did it take place?
Operation Kiya was a 20-hour joint counter-terrorism operation conducted on February 4–5, 2026 in the Basantgarh forest area of Udhampur district, Jammu and Kashmir.
Which terrorist organisation did the neutralised militants belong to?
Both neutralised militants belonged to Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), including top commander Rubani alias Abu Mavia.
Which security forces participated in Operation Kiya?
The operation was a joint effort involving the Indian Army, Jammu and Kashmir Police, and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF).
What weapons were recovered from the Basantgarh encounter site?
An M4 carbine and an AK rifle were recovered from the encounter site in Basantgarh forest, Udhampur.
What is the strategic significance of Operation Kiya?
The operation dealt a significant blow to JeM's operational capability in J&K by eliminating a top commander, demonstrating the effectiveness of coordinated joint operations between the Army, police, and paramilitary forces.
