New Delhi:

Five terrorists were killed in an encounter in South Kashmir’s Kulgam district on Thursday. The operation started after security forces launched a search operation in the Kadder area following inputs about the presence of terrorists in the area.

As terrorists opened fire on security forces, an encounter ensued.

“OP KADER, Kulgam. Based on specific intelligence input regarding the presence of terrorists, a Joint Operation was launched by the Indian Army and J-K police at Kader, Kulgam. Suspicious activity was observed by vigilant troops and on being challenged, terrorists opened indiscriminate and heavy volumes of fire. Own troops effectively retaliated. Operation is in progress,” Indian Army’s Chinar Corps said in a post on X.

Earlier this month, a terrorist involved in civilians killing at Gagangir, Ganderbal and several other terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir was killed in an encounter in Srinagar district.

Kulgam, Jammu and Kashmir: Encounter started between Security forces and militants in Kadder village of Behibagh, under the jurisdiction of Kulgam District, J&K. Heavy exchange of gunfire going on. Two terrorists are believed to be trapped pic.twitter.com/Etwtwlless

— IANS (@ians_india) December 19, 2024

Last month, security forces gunned down three terrorists in encounters in the Jammu and Kashmir’s Anantnag and Khanyar. The deadliest attack was on October 20 when seven people – including a local doctor and two workers from Bihar – were shot dead by terrorists at a tunnel construction site in Ganderbal district.

National Conference chief Farooq Abdullah, whose son Omar Abdullah took charge as the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, said the surge in terror attacks could be an attempt to destabilise the newly formed government and demanded an independent probe.

Srinagar:

Kashmir Police have asked trekkers to inform police in advance about their routes after two trekkers were caught in an encounter between terrorists and security forces at Zabarwan near Srinagar yesterday. The trekkers were rescued after they dialled 100 and informed cops.

“Trekkers and adventure enthusiasts should inform the nearest police station about their travel plans and expected routes, especially in areas where there could be security operations. This protocol ensures we can act swiftly to ensure their safety if unexpected incidents occur,” Kashmir police chief Vidhi Kumar Birdi said. 

Police and security forces launched an operation in the Zabarwan forest area yesterday on the basis of intelligence about the presence of terrorists. The operation is still on. According to police, the trekkers found themselves in a dangerous situation when the terrorists and forces started exchanging fire. They hid in the rocks. One of them dialled 100 and alerted the cops about their location. The security operation was temporarily suspended and the trekkers evacuated from the area.

Police and security forces launched an operation in the Zabarwan forest area on the basis of intelligence about the presence of terrorists. 

A senior police officer said, “Fortunately, one among them had an idea and he dialled 100.” The Police Control Room alerted senior officers and a rescue team led evacuated them.

“The PCR’s swift coordination in relaying information to the officers on duty was instrumental in preventing a possible tragedy,” a senior police officer said.

“We encourage everyone – locals, tourists, and especially trekkers – to use the helpline services, including dialling 100 or directly reaching out to police stations, should they face any situation that requires immediate intervention. This way, the Police can ensure swift assistance while coordinating with ongoing operations,” the Kashmir Police chief said.

Autumn is a trekking season in the Valley. Tourists from across the world reach Kashmir for trekking and skiing. According to people who organise treks, many trekkers go out on their own and get into trouble at times. “In upper reaches, operations may be on. Then it becomes a security hazard,” an officer said.

New Delhi:

Army officer was killed in action and three soldiers were injured during a gunfight with terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kishtwar.

The army’s 16 Corps in a post on X said the Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO) Naib Subedar Rakesh Kumar was killed in action in a joint counter-terror operation launched in Kishtwar’s Bhart Ridge on Saturday.

Naib Subedar Kumar was from the 2 Para (SF).

The anti-terror operation comes amid an intensified hunt since the killing of two village defence guards (VDGs) recently. The latest encounter broke out around 11 am when joint search parties of the army and the police intercepted terrorists in a forest, a few kilometres from the spot where the bullet-riddled bodies of VDGs Nazir Ahmad and Kuldeep Kumar were found.

A massive search operation was launched in the forests of Kuntwara and Keshwan on Thursday evening after the terrorists kidnapped and killed the VDGs.

An official said the hiding militants opened fire at the security forces. Representational file image.
| Photo Credit: ANI

An intense gunfight erupted on the outskirts of Srinagar on Sunday (November 10, 2024) morning after a group of hiding militants were encircled by security forces in a forest area.

An official said the hiding militants opened fire at the security forces after a contact was established during a search operation.. 

“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,” the police said.

Kashmir valley has seen a sudden spurt in militancy. Three militants were killed in twin operations in Baramulla’s Sopore area in the past 36 hours. 

Srinagar:

Security forces gunned down two terrorists during an encounter in the Anantnag district of Jammu and Kashmir this morning. The encounter started after the security forces launched an anti-terrorist operation in the Halkan Gali area.

Earlier in the morning, an encounter broke out in Srinagar’s Khaynar area during a cordon and search operation by a joint team of police and security forces.

The anti-terrorist operations follow a terror attack on two migrant workers a day earlier. The two men from Uttar Pradesh were shot at in Budgam district – in fourth such targeted attack on migrants in the Kashmir Valley in the last two weeks.

The deadliest attack was on October 20 when seven people – including a local doctor and two workers from Bihar – were shot dead by terrorists at a tunnel construction site in Ganderbal district.

National Conference chief Farooq Abdullah, whose son Omar Abdullah took charge as the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir last month, said the surge in terror attacks could be an attempt to destabilise the newly formed government and demanded an independent probe.

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

Terrorists targeted an Army vehicle in Jammu and Kashmir’s Akhnoor and multiple rounds were fired. Security forces are currently conducting a large-scale search op. More details are awaited.

According to preliminary reports, the terrorists fled the spot after opening fire and security forces are now conducting a search operation. 

Srinagar:

Two soldiers were killed in action and two others were injured during a fierce gunbattle with terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kishtwar, a senior army officer said.

In a separate encounter in Kathua, troops of the Rising Star Corps shot dead two terrorists.

#

In the Joint operation launched on 11 Sep by & & , Two Terrorists Neutralised & Large War Like Stores Recovered. C pic.twitter.com/QUc92EhElN

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

The gunbattle in Kishtwar’s Chatroo began after the security forces launched an operation in the area. The encounter is still going on, the White Knight Corps said in a post on X.

The same terrorists involved in the encounter in Kishtwar are linked to another encounter in Doda in July, when four soldiers including an officer were killed in action, sources said.

The encounters happened days before voting in eight assembly segments spread across Doda, Kishtwar and Ramban districts in the Chenab valley region, along with 16 seats in the south Kashmir districts of Anantnag, Pulwama, Shopian and Kulgam on September 18.

Jammu, Kathua and Samba districts will vote in the second and third phases on September 25 and October 1, respectively.

Srinagar:

Two soldiers were injured in a fierce gunbattle with terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir’s Anantnag district today, sources said.

The police said the encounter began in Anantnag district’s Ahlan Gadole this afternoon.

The two soldiers were injured after terrorists targeted their patrol while they were carrying out an anti-terror operation in the forest in the Kokernag subdivision. 

The army’s special forces are part of the operation to flush out terrorists who are believed to be foreigners.

Today’s gunbattle is the second major encounter in Kokernag in the last one year. In September 2023, a Commanding Officer, a Major, and a Deputy Superintendent of Police were among the personnel killed during a gunbattle with terrorists in Kokernag forest.

Reinforcement has been rushed to the area to flush out terrorists, believed to be entrenched in Ahlan Gadole forests.

Jammu:

Security forces and terrorists exchanged fire twice briefly within a span of four hours in a forest area in Jammu and Kashmir’s Doda district, officials said on Wednesday.

They said the firing was first reported at Kalaan Bhata at 10.45 pm on Tuesday and then near Panchan Bhata at 2 am during the ongoing anti-terrorist operation in the Desa forest area, where four Army personnel were killed in the intervening night of Monday and Tuesday.

There are no reports of any casualties in the latest exchanges of fire. Taking advantage of the darkness, difficult terrain and thick foliage, the terrorists managed to slip away, the officials said.

Troops of Rashtriya Rifles and Special Operations Group of Jammu and Kashmir Police had launched a joint cordon and search operation at Dhari Gote Urarbagi in the Desa forest belt, some 55 km from Doda town, late on Monday evening following information about the presence of terrorists.

Despite the challenging terrain and weather conditions, efforts are underway to track down and neutralise the militants who have links with the banned Pakistan-based terror group Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM), the officials said.

The Army, along with para commandos and aerial support from drones and helicopters, is intensifying its search operation to eliminate the terrorists who have infiltrated from across the border and taken refuge in the forest area.

In a statement on Tuesday, the Army had said it had been conducting a series of joint and coordinated operations with the Jammu and Kashmir Police to eliminate foreign terrorists who had infiltrated from across the border and were moving in the upper reaches of Udhampur, Doda and Kishtwar districts in the Jammu region and thereafter to Kashmir.

“All formations of the Northern Command are committed to eliminating the scourge of terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir for which the relentless operations will continue,” the Army had said. 

(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

New Delhi:

Four Hizbul Mujahideen terrorists who were shot dead in an encounter on Saturday night at Chinnigam used to stay in a hideout at Chinnigam Frisal in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kulgam district.

“They had created a bunker inside an almirah,” said an official, adding the involvement of locals for sheltering the terrorists is being investigated.

Two soldiers of the Indian Army were killed in action in the operation, while a total of six Hizbul terrorists were shot dead in separate encounters in south Kashmir’s Kulgam.

“In the first encounter in Madergam, a soldier was killed in action. In the second encounter in Chinigam in Kulgam, four terrorists were shot dead. A soldier was also killed in action,” Inspector General of Police VK Birdi told NDTV.

According to him, all the killed terrorists were affiliated to the Hizbul Mujahideen. “One of them was the local commander of the Hizbul,” he said.

The four terrorists shot dead in Chinigam have been identified as Yawar Bashir Dar, Zahid Ahmad Dar, Tawheed Ahmad Rather and Shakeel ah Wani. The two killed in Madergam have been identified as Faisal and Adil.

Para commando and Lance Naik Pradeep Nain was killed in action in Modergam; Havaldar Raj Kumar of 1 Rashtriya Rifles was killed in action in Chanigam village in Frisal area.

Although both encounters were reported from the interiors of Kulgam, security officials have reviewed the situation in view of the Amarnath yatra.

“The encounter sites were in the interiors of Kulgam and were away from the national highway. The police and other agencies are keeping a close watch. This success is a result of that,” an official said.