Terrorist killed in ongoing Kulgam operation
Srinagar, Aug 2: Security forces killed a terrorist in an ongoing anti-terror operation dubbed “Operation Akhal” in the Kulgam district of south Kashmir, Army on Saturday. The operation, launched late Friday night, is still underway, with troops maintaining a tight cordon around the suspected hideout.
According to officials from the Chinar Corps, intermittent but intense gunfire was exchanged throughout the night as alert troops engaged militants in the region. “Alert troops responded with calibrated fire and tightened the noose while maintaining contact,” the Army posted on its official handle on X. “One terrorist has been neutralised by the security forces so far,” it added.
Director General of Police (DGP) Nalin Prabhat and IGP Kashmir V K Birdi accompanied by senior Army and paramilitary officers, visited the site of the encounter on Saturday evening to assess the ground situation. Security forces have intensified surveillance operations in the area , suspecting the presence of more terrorists in the area.
Operation Akhal is the third major counter-terrorism operation conducted in Jammu and Kashmir within the past week, highlighting a sharp uptick in infiltration attempts and militant activity along the Line of Control (LoC) and in the hinterland.
On Wednesday, two heavily armed terrorists were killed in Operation Shivshakti, following a fierce encounter in the Kalsian-Gulpur area of Poonch district, near the LoC. The confrontation began late Tuesday night after Indian Army units detected a group of terrorists attempting to infiltrate from across the border. The prompt action by security forces foiled what officials described as a “well-planned cross-border infiltration bid.”
Prior to that, on July 28, security forces launched Operation Mahadev in the forested Lidwas area near Harwan on the outskirts of Srinagar, resulting in the elimination of three terrorists associated with the banned group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT).
Among those killed, officials said was Suleiman, a top commander and the alleged mastermind of the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam that claimed the lives of several security personnel.
The two others were identified as Afghan and Jibran, both seasoned LeT operatives with a long history of orchestrating attacks in the Kashmir Valley.
In light of these successive encounters, security forces across Jammu and Kashmir have been placed on high alert, particularly along infiltration-prone stretches of the LoC. Intelligence agencies have warned of continued attempts by Pakistan-based terror outfits to push in terrorists ahead of India’s Independence Day on August 15.
Multiple sources within the security establishment have indicated that the recent operations have significantly disrupted the operational capabilities of LeT and other groups, although threats persist. Additional deployments and surveillance measures have been activated to maintain pressure and prevent further infiltration or terrorist activity.
