A terrorist was killed in an encounter with security forces during an ongoing anti-terror operation in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kulgam district, officials confirmed on Saturday.
This followed the launch of a cordon and search operation by security forces in the Akhal forest area of south Kashmir’s Kulgam district, based on specific intelligence inputs about the presence of terrorists, a police official stated.
“Intermittent and intense firefight continued through the night. Alert troops responded with calibrated fire and tightened the noose while maintaining contact. One terrorist has been neutralised by the security forces so far," the Chinar Corps of the Indian Army said in its latest update on Operation Akhal.
Security forces launched a search operation in the forested area of south Kashmir’s Kulgam district after receiving intelligence about the presence of terrorists.
The situation escalated into a gun battle when the hiding militants opened fire, prompting retaliation from the troops. “The cordon is being strengthened, with additional personnel deployed in the area," an official said.
This comes on the heels of another encounter near the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu’s Poonch district, where two terrorists were killed by security forces following an infiltration attempt.
The operation began late Tuesday night in the Kalsian-Gulpur region of the Degwar sector, after the army intercepted a group of two to three terrorists attempting to cross the border.
“OPERATION SHIVSHAKTI: In a successful anti-infiltration operation, alert troops of the #IndianArmy eliminated two terrorists attempting to infiltrate across the Line of Control," the army said in a statement.
Meanwhile, under ‘Operation Mahadev,’ Indian forces on July 28 neutralised three Pakistani terrorists in the Lidwas forest near Harwan, on the outskirts of Srinagar.
According to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, the three were behind the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that claimed the lives of 26 people.
Speaking in the Lok Sabha, Shah identified one of the slain terrorists as Suleiman, the key planner of the attack.
The others were named Afghan and Jibran — all senior operatives of Pakistan-based proscribed outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba.
Their identities were confirmed by individuals previously arrested by the NIA for providing them shelter.
