Srinagar:

J&K Encounter: Two security personnel are injured as heavy exchange of fire continues with terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kishtwar, the third such encounter that broke out in the past 24 hours. A junior commissioned officer (JCO) is among the two injured soldiers.

The encounter in Kishtwar broke out after the security forces cornered the terrorists who were behind the killing of two village defence guards two days ago.

“Encounter begins at Keshwan Kishtwar between terrorists and Security forces. 3/4 terrorists believed to be trapped. This is same group which killed the 2 innocent villagers,” said police.

Earlier in the day, another encounter broke out in the Zabarwan forest on Srinagar.

“A joint Police and security forces operation was launched in Zabarwan forest area of #Srinagar based on specific intelligence about the presence of #terrorists. An exchange of fire ensued during the operation,” said Kashmir Zone Police.

This followed an encounter in Baramullah district yesterday in which a terrorist was gunned down. The security forces and state police had launched a joint operation in Rajpura after they observed suspicious activity.

The encounter broke out after the terrorists opened fire at the forces. “One terrorist has been neutralised by the security forces in the ongoing Operation in general area Rajpura, Sopore, Baramulla,” said the Indian Army’s Chinar Corps.

Kupwara (Jammu and Kashmir):

An exchange of fire was reported between security forces and terrorists in the Kupwara district of Jammu and Kashmir on Friday, officials said.

“On 04 Oct 2024, based on intelligence about infiltration attempt, a joint operation by the Indian Army and Jammu and Kashmir Police was launched at Gugaldhar, Kupwara. Alert troops spotted suspicious activity and challenged, leading to exchange of firing with terrorists. Vigilant troops carried out effective fire. Operation is in progress,” Chinar Corps, Indian Army posted on X on Saturday

OP GUGALDHAR, #Kupwara

On 04 Oct 2024, based on intelligence about infiltration attempt, a joint operation by the #IndianArmy and @JmuKmrPolice was launched at Gugaldhar, Kupwara. Alert troops spotted suspicious activity and challenged, leading to exchange of firing with… pic.twitter.com/64ZCSoiOEj

— Chinar Corps – Indian Army (@ChinarcorpsIA) October 4, 2024

Further details are awaited.

On Friday, an exchange of fire was reported between security forces and terrorists in the Kishtwar district of Jammu and Kashmir, officials said.

Upon receiving specific intelligence about the presence of the terrorists, a joint search operation was launched by the security forces in the Chatroo village of the Kishtwar district, they said

Earlier on September 29, an encounter broke out between security forces and terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir’s Rajouri district.

“Based on specific intelligence about the presence of terrorists, a joint search operation was launched by the security forces at Manail Gali under Thanamandi Police Station in Rajouri,” the ADGP, Jammu Zone, said in a post on X.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Srinagar:

An encounter broke out between terrorists and security forces in the Kulgam district of Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday, police said.

The gunbattle broke out in Adigam village of Devsar area after security personnel launched a cordon and search operation.

#Encounter has started at Adigam Devsar area of #Kulgam. Police and security forces are on the job. Further details shall follow.@JmuKmrPolice

— Kashmir Zone Police (@KashmirPolice) September 28, 2024

“Encounter has started at Adigam Devsar area of Kulgam. Police and security forces are on the job. Further details shall follow,” Kashmir Zone Police posted on X.

No casualties have been reported from either side so far. 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Srinagar:

Three terrorists were killed in an encounter with security forces in Jammu and Kashmir’s Baramulla district this morning, sources said. The gunfight began in the Chak Taper Kreeri in the Pattan area of the north Kashmir district late Friday after a joint operation was launched by the Indian Army and Jammu and Kashmir police based on specific intelligence input regarding the presence of terrorists.

The operation is going on.

Joint operation with @JmuKmrPolice in progress at #Baramulla. https://t.co/YZY7MLjYeopic.twitter.com/GkvBlwRJ2k

— NORTHERN COMMAND – INDIAN ARMY (@NorthernComd_IA) September 14, 2024

In a separate encounter, troops of the Army’s Rising Star Corps unit shot dead two terrorists in Kathua on Friday.

“Large war-like stores were recovered after the operations concluded,” they said in a statement on X.

#

In the Joint operation launched on 11 Sep by & & , Two Terrorists Neutralised & Large War Like Stores Recovered. … pic.twitter.com/SE4bfRVmNL

— Rising Star Corps_IA (@RisingStarCorps) September 13, 2024

Earlier Friday, two Army personnel, including a junior commissioned officer (JCO), were killed in action and an equal number injured in an encounter with terrorists in the higher reaches of Jammu and Kashmir’s Kishtwar district.

The gunfight broke out when a joint security party of the Army and police, acting on a tip-off, launched a cordon-and-search operation in the Naidgham area in the Chhatroo belt connecting Kishtwar with south Kashmir’s Anantnag district.

#GeneralUpendraDwivedi#COAS and All Ranks of #IndianArmy salute the supreme sacrifice of the #Bravehearts Nb Sub Vipan Kumar and Sep Arvind Singh, who laid down their lives in the line of duty in J&K and express deepest condolences to the bereaved families. https://t.co/4eGMGpTxDk

— ADG PI – INDIAN ARMY (@adgpi) September 14, 2024

Four Army personnel were injured in the gunbattle and two of them — Naib Subedar Vipan Kumar, a JCO, and Sepoy Arvind Singh — later died, the officials said, adding that one of the soldiers died of splinter injuries caused by a grenade explosion and another of a bullet injury in the head.

PM Modi’s Jammu And Kashmir Visit

These encounters happened ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s mega poll rally in Jammu and Kashmir’s Doda district.

Multi-tier security has been deployed across the twin districts of Doda and Kishtwar, particularly around the venue, to ensure a peaceful and smooth conduct of the election rally.

This will be the first visit by a prime minister to Doda in the last 42 years.

Voting in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections will be held in three phases – September 18, September 25, and October 1. The counting of votes will take place on October 8.

This is the first Assembly election in J&K in 10 years, and the first since the abrogation of Article 370 – which gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir – and Article 35A – which empowered Jammu and Kashmir’s legislature to decide who the erstwhile state’s permanent residents were.

New Delhi:

Three separate encounters between security forces and terrorists have broken out in Jammu and Kashmir after troops launched a search operation in response to their suspected movement, official sources said. While two anti-terrorist operations are underway near the Line of Control in Kupwara district, a third encounter is reported in the Rajouri district.

The first encounter started in Kupwara’s Tangdhar sector yesterday evening after troops intercepted an infiltration attempt.

The army then intercepted another infiltration attempt by terrorists in Kupwara’s Machil sector this morning.

In the Rajouri district, security forces have launched an operation in the Lathi area after information about the presence of terrorists.

Two to three terrorists are holed up in the cordon area, sources said.

Jammu:

An encounter broke out between terrorists and security forces in the higher reaches of Basantgarh area in Jammu and Kashmir’s Udhampur district on Sunday, officials said.

Officials told IANS that the encounter broke out after contact was re-established with a group of terrorists with whom an exchange of fire had taken place on Tuesday.

The operation started after a joint team of police and security forces received input about the presence of terrorists in the area.

There have been a series of encounters between terrorists and security forces across Jammu and Kashmir in the recent past in which many terrorists and their commanders have been gunned down. Security forces have also taken casualties.

Initially confined to Poonch and Rajouri districts, terrorist activities are now spreading across other areas of Jammu that were relatively free from such incidents until a few years ago like the Chenab valley, that was declared militancy-free, and Udhampur and Kathua.

The highly trained terrorists have been ambushing vehicles and using grenades and armour-piercing bullets, as well as M4 assault rifles.

Sources say the rising militancy and the use of sophisticated weapons by terrorists indicate a significant escalation in the threat level. The frequent attacks have sparked political criticism, calls for stronger security measures, and heightened public concern.

Analysts say that over the last couple of years, the Pir Panjal region dividing Kashmir Valley with Jammu has witnessed a surge in militancy.

The relentless anti-terror operations in Kashmir have pushed terrorists to the mountains where they hide and wait for the right moment to carry out attacks on security forces.

Analysts add that a comprehensive strategy is needed to address the increasing militancy in Jammu involving enhanced intelligence gathering and better coordination among security forces.

The series of terror attacks also goes on to highlight the urgency of reassessing and strengthening the security grid to ensure the safety and stability of the region.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

A soldier was killed in the line of duty as the Army thwarted an infiltration bid by terrorists along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch district early Tuesday, the latest in a string of terrorist attacks in the region.

Lance Naik Subash Kumar was injured in the intense gunfight and later succumbed, said officials, adding terrorists too suffered “loss”.

The post-mortem has been conducted and the soldier’s body handed over to the Army, a police officer said.
A search operation has been launched in the area, the officials said.

There has been a spurt in terror activities in the Jammu in recent months, raising fears about the revival of militancy in the region.

New Delhi:

Four Indian Army soldiers, including an officer, have been killed in action during an encounter with terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir’s Doda district on Monday.

According to officials, a joint operation by the Indian Army and the Jammu and Kashmir Police was launched based on specific information about the presence of terrorists.

“Contact with terrorists was established at about 9 pm in which heavy firefight ensued. Initial reports suggest injuries to our bravehearts,” the Army had posted on X on Monday night.

Op KOTHI – 2

Based on specific intelligence inputs, a joint operation by #IndianArmy and JKP was in progress in General area North of #Doda.

Contact with terrorists was established tonight at about 2100h in which heavy firefight ensued. Initial reports suggest injuries to our…

— White Knight Corps (@Whiteknight_IA) July 15, 2024

At least five soldiers were critically injured in the encounter, officials had said.

Second Major Attack In Jammu Region In One Week

This was the second major encounter in the Jammu region after five soldiers were killed in action in Kathua last week.

The attack, in which five soldiers were also injured, was a coordinated strike on two trucks carrying at least 12 troops.

The terrorists targeted the trucks, which were around 500 metres apart, with grenades and, in worrying signs, used armor-piercing bullets (those tipped with hardened steel) and an M4 assault rifle.

Terrorist attacks, which started in Poonch and Rajouri districts, have now spread across Jammu, the region that was free from terrorism till a few years ago.

Over the last 32 months, 48 soldiers have been killed in action in the Jammu region. 

There are reports over 60 foreign terrorists – trained in jungle warfare – may be operating in the Jammu region alone, even as the shadow of fear has spread across all 10 districts of the province.

Last month, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had asked the Army to deploy the full spectrum of its anti-terrorist capabilities to eliminate terrorism in the Jammu region.

New Delhi:

In a significant breakthrough, one of the National Investigation Agency’s (NIA) most wanted terrorists and LeT commander was killed during an encounter with security forces on Wednesday night in Kashmir’s Kulgam district.

Three terrorists have been killed in the gunfight which broke out in the Redwani Payeen area of south Kashmir’s Kulgam after security forces launched a search operation late on Monday night.

Basit Ahmed Dar, a resident of Redwani Payeen, was also the commander of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) offshoot group, The Resistant Front (TRF) and was involved in the killings of civilians and security personnel. Apart from Dar, two LeT terrorists identified as Momin Gulzar and Fahim Ahmed Baba were also killed in the operation.

“It’s a big achievement for us as they were involved in 18 killings. These killings include those of security personnel, civilians and minorities,” Inspector General of Police Kashmir V K Birdi told NDTV.

The security forces have intensified search operations in the Union territory days after an Indian Air Force officer was killed and four others injured when their convoy was targetted in Poonch district on May 4. 

CCTV footage photographs of three terrorists believed to be involved in the attack were released on Wednesday.

The three have been identified as Illiyas, a former Pakistan Army commando, a Pakistani terrorist called Hadoon (or Hadun), and Abu Hamza, the code-name of commander of Lashkar-e-Taiba.
 

New Delhi:

Security forces have now reached close to the hideout of terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir’s Anantnag where they had targetted their bombs and shells to drive them out, sources said. An operation against terrorists is going on since late Tuesday night deep inside the dense forests of Gadol area of Kokernag in Anantnag. 

The encounter has entered its sixth day, with thousands of troops including para commandos locked in an endless gunfight with terrorists.

Three officers, including two from the Army and a policeman, have been killed in action in an attempt to neutralise the terrorists.

Profile of terrorists

The heavily armed terrorists, believed to be two-three in number, are hiding in a tactically favourable location in the dense and steep forest. 

They are believed to be affiliated with Lashkar-e-Taiba as one of them is one of them is Uzair Khan, who joined Lashkar last year and is well aware of the area.

Cautious approach

It has been raining intermittently at the encounter site since Saturday, which is causing a lot of difficulty in the operation. Especially on these hills of Pir Panjal, there are dense forests, caves, and ditches, due to which the visibility reduces considerably and makes the operation riskier. 

Army sources said that there is no firing from terrorists, but until that area is completely sanitised, army personnel cannot go there. It’s possible that the terrorist may be alive and hiding to fire secretly. They may even have planted an improvised explosive device (IED) in the hideout and set it to explode when the soldiers reach there. This is why the army is moving very slowly, sources said.

Army dogs and equipment to detect explosives are also being used to clear the area. 

Security forces suspect that the hide out may have dead bodies of the terrorists. Even if they aren’t dead, it would be very difficult to escape as the army has cordoned off the entire area. 

Action so far

The troops have fired hundreds of mortar shells and rockets, targeted suspected terrorist hideouts with hi-tech equipment, and dropped explosives using advanced drones.

The Army has even released a picture of the drone being used in the operation.

OP GAROL#LtGenUpendraDwivedi#ArmyCdr, Northern Command reviewed the operational situation on the ongoing operations at #Kokernag forest area in #Anantnag. He was briefed by the ground commanders on the High Intensity Operations in which Hi-tech Equipment is being used for… pic.twitter.com/MggzlYb2Lh

— NORTHERN COMMAND – INDIAN ARMY (@NorthernComd_IA) September 16, 2023

The joint operation by Army and police began Tuesday night based on intelligence input, followed by an attempt to approach the terrorist hideout next day. The terrorists who appear to have anticipated the action opened fire on the forces, caught between the dense forests and hill on one side and a deep ditch on the other.

Leading from the front, two Army officers – Colonel Manpreet Singh and Major Ashish Dhonchak, and Deputy Superintendent of Police Himayun Bhat – were killed in action. Two more soldiers were injured while another is believed to be missing.