6 Terrorists Eliminated; 2 Soldiers Martyred In Twin Encounters In Kashmir’s Kulgam; CASO Underway

On Saturday, encounters broke out between security forces and terrorists in Modergam and Frisal Chinnigam areas of south Kashmir's Kulgam district.

Kulgam Encounter: Six terrorists were neutralized, while two Indian Army soldiers, including an elite para commando, were martyred in twin gunfights which raged in Kulgam district of insurgency-hit south Kashmir region for nearly 24 hours.

According to the Jammu and Kashmir Police, the bodies of two terrorists were recovered from the Modergam encounter site while four bodies were recovered from the Chinnigam site on Sunday. The twin encounters broke out in the two villages of Kulgam district on Saturday.

Officials said that two Indian Army soldiers, including an elite para commando, laid down their lives while battling the terrorists.

Talking to reporters in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir Director General of Police RR Swain termed the twin operations as a major achievement for the security forces, asserting that the elimination of such a big number of terrorists will undoubtedly send a message to those fermenting terror in in the erstwhile state.

“Undoubtedly, this is a big milestone in the efforts towards strengthening the security environment. These successes are very meaningful both substantively as well as in terms of messaging,” Swain said.

Search ops underway

The police chief said the success of the operations is an indication that the fight for elimination of terror in Jammu and Kashmir will reach its end.

“This is an indication that the security architecture and involvement of people is leading to the flow of human intelligence and this fight (against terror) will be taken to its logical conclusion,” he said.

Swain said that search operations are still underway in both Chinnigam and Modergam.

“These successes are crucial in fortifying the security environment. The people are coming together to end terrorism, and the operations are gaining momentum. The current operation is still ongoing and has not yet concluded,” he added.

Swain also acknowledged the reports about involvement of local terrorists in Kashmir, saying, “We have received news of the involvement of local terrorists as well.”

Twin encounters in Kulgam

On Saturday, encounters broke out between security forces and terrorists in Modergam and Frisal Chinnigam areas of south Kashmir’s Kulgam district.

In Modergam, a firefight erupted when terrorists hiding out in the village, opened fire on security forces during a cordon and search operation launched by the latter following specific inputs about the presence of militants in the area, police said.

“Encounter started at Modergam Village of Kulgam District. Police and Security Forces are on job. Further details shall follow,” Kashmir Zone Police said in a post on X.

Later, another encounter broke out in Frisal Chinnigam area of Kulgam after security forces established contact with terrorists in the area, the Jammu and Kashmir Police said.

Surge in terror attacks

Jammu and Kashmir has witnessed a noticeable surge in the number of terrorist attacks  and terrorist activities in the past few months.

Last month, a bus carrying pilgrims from Uttar Pradesh enroute to the Shiv Khori temple fell into a deep gorge after it was fired upon by in Reasi district, killing nine people onboard and leaving 33 others injured.

According to the police, terrorists struck the bus when it was on its way from the Shiv Khori temple to Mata Vaishno Devi shrine at Katra near Teryath village in the Poni area of Reasi district. The 53-seater bus veered off the road and plunged into a deep gorge following the gunfire at around 6:15 pm, police said.

(With inputs from agencies)