2 terrorists killed in Keran encounter: Army

Srinagar, Nov 8: Two terrorists were killed in an encounter with security forces along the Line of Control (LoC) in the Keran sector of Kupwara district in north Kashmir, the Army said on Saturday.

According to Army officials, the operation was launched late Friday night after security agencies received specific intelligence inputs suggesting a possible infiltration attempt from across the border.

They said that the Indian Army, in coordination with other security agencies, immediately intensified surveillance and laid ambushes in the suspected area.

The Army said that alert troops of the 21 Grenadiers detected suspicious movement near the Pimple Forward Post along the LoC.

“When challenged, the infiltrating terrorists opened indiscriminate fire, prompting the troops to retaliate. In the ensuing exchange, two terrorists were killed,” the Army officials said.

Shared details of the operation in a post on X, the Chinar Corps said, “#OperationPIMPLE, Keran, Kupwara: On 07 Nov 2025, based on specific intelligence input from agencies regarding infiltration attempt, a joint operation was launched in the Keran sector of Kupwara. Alert troops spotted suspicious activity and challenged, which resulted in terrorists opening indiscriminate fire. Contact established, and terrorists trapped. Two terrorists have been neutralised by the security forces in the ongoing operation.”

Army officials said that the encounter site lies in a rugged, forested area close to the LoC, making the operation challenging due to difficult terrain and low visibility during the night.

They said that additional reinforcements were rushed to the area, and search operations are continuing to ensure no more terrorists are hiding nearby.

The Army said: “The identity and affiliation of the killed terrorists are yet to be ascertained. The Keran sector has remained a major infiltration route used by terrorists due to its proximity to the LoC and dense forest cover. Troops remain on high alert, especially as snowfall is expected soon, which usually reduces infiltration attempts.”

This is the second major infiltration attempt foiled by security forces in Kupwara in less than a month.

On October 14, two terrorists were also killed when the Army foiled an infiltration bid along the LoC in the same district.

The LoC, spanning over 740 km across Jammu and Kashmir, witnesses frequent infiltration attempts from across the border.

While the LoC passes through Kupwara, Baramulla, and Bandipora districts in north Kashmir and parts of Jammu, the 240-km International Border runs through Jammu, Samba, and Kathua districts in the Jammu division.