Kulgam Encounter: 2 Soldiers Killed, Top Hizb Commander Among 4 Terrorists Gunned Down As Twin Gunfights Rage In South Kashmir

A soldier lost his life as two encounters between security forces and terrorists are currently underway in Kulgam district of south Kashmir.

Kulgam Encounter: A top commander of the banned Hizb-ul-Mujahideen terror outfit among four terrorists were neutralised, while two Indian Army soldiers were martyred as gunfights raged between security forces and terrorists in two places in Kulgam district of insurgency-hit south Kashmir on Saturday.

Officials said four terrorists have been killed in an ongoing encounter between security forces and terrorists in Frisal Chinnigam area of Kulgam district. Unconfirmed reports suggested that the slain terrorists included a top “commander” of the Hizb-ul-Mujahideen outfit.

Drone footage of the encounter site has shown four bodies lying there, but they could not be retrieved yet as firing was still going on, they said, adding the operation is still underway.

Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kashmir, V K Birdhi, who visited the encounter site, said the operation will continue. “Some bodies (of terrorists) have been sighted, but the encounter has not concluded yet,” he told reporters.

The site of the encounter is not near the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway but in the interior areas of the district, the IGP said, adding the J-K Police and security forces continue to keep track of the movement of terrorists and the killing of these terrorists is a significant achievement for the security forces.

Reports citing police sources said the identity of the killed terrorists is being ascertained.

Earlier, officials said that encounters are underway between security personnel and terrorists in Modergam and Frisal Chinnigam areas of the 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.

An Indian Army soldier lost his life due to fatal injuries received in the ensuing gunfight, they 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.

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.

“Police and security forces are on job. Further details shall follow,” they added.

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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)