Encounter underway in Jammu & Kashmir’s Kulgam area; 1 soldier dies
An encounter with terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir‘s Kulgam area on Saturday resulted in the death of at least one soldier, officials said.
The shootout broke out in Modergam village, Kulgam district, when security personnel conducted a search operation based on intelligence. Security forces have cornered at least two or three terrorists in their hideout.
The Kashmir Zone Police reported the gunfight in a tweet on microblogging site X, saying, “Encounter started near Modergam Village of #Kulgam District. Police and security forces are on duty. More information will be provided shortly.
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Region has seen surge in terror activities recently
The encounter was ongoing at the time of writing, and more information was awaited.
Earlier this month, two key commanders from The Resistance Front, an offshoot of Pakistan’s Lashkar-e-Taiba, were trapped in a house they used as a refuge during a battle with security forces in Pulwama area.
Since early 2021, more than 29 episodes of terrorist-related violence have been reported in Kashmir’s Jammu region, with militants targeting security troops and civilians. According to government figures, 17 civilian deaths occurred in the first six months of this year, compared to 12 in all of 2023. Terrorists recently targeted a bus carrying pilgrims in Jammu’s Reasi district, killing nine and wounding 33.
Officials estimate that there are more than 100 active militants in Jammu and Kashmir, with foreign terrorists outnumbering local recruits.
The security forces referred to trained infiltrators who were able to survive in the woodlands and effectively navigate technology surveillance. According to Army and police officials, these infiltrators could be headed by a “skilled former Army officer who is planning attacks in the south of the Pir Panjal region after certain intervals”.
