Two Army soldiers were killed and three others injured in an encounter that broke out between security forces and terrorists in the Ahlan Gagarmandu area of the Anantnag district on Saturday.
A cordon and search operation was launched by the security forces in Ahlan Gadole in the Kokernag area of the south Kashmir district following an information about the presence of terrorists there.
According to news agency PTI citing officials, the terrorists hiding in the forest opened indiscriminate fire upon noticing the search parties, leading to an intense gun battle.
Five army personnel were injured in the firing by the terrorists, the officials said, adding that the injured were immediately taken to a hospital, where two of them died.
In a post on social media platform X (formerly twitter), the Army's Srinagar-based Chinar Corps said: “Based on specific intelligence input, a joint operation was launched by the Indian Army, @JmuKmrPolice & @crpf_srinagar today in general area Kokernag, Anantnag. Contact was established and a firefight ensued.”
“Two personnel have been injured and evacuated from the area,” it said.
“Encounter has started at Ahlan Gagarmandu area of District Anantnag. Police and Security forces are on the job,” police said on X.
Further details are awaited.
Reinforcements have been rushed to the area, and an operation to neutralize the terrorists was going on when last reports were received, the officials said.
Earlier in the day, the Jammu and Kashmir Police released sketches of four terrorists who were last seen in Dhoks of Malhar, Bani and Seojdhar of Kathua district.
The police also announced ₹5 lakh reward for information about them.
Earlier this month, security forces had apprehended three terrorist associates in Anantnag district and recovered arms and ammunition.
The terrorist associates were held during a naka-checking operation conducted by Anantnag police, in collaboration with 1 Rashtriya Rifle (RR) and 90 Battalion Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) at Hassanpura Tulkhan Road.
The terrorist associates were identified as Dawood Ahmad Dar, Imtiyaz Ahmad Reshi, and Shahid Ahmad Dar, all residents of Hassanpora Tavela.
“During the operation, security forces recovered a substantial cache of arms and ammunition from their possession, including One pistol, One pistol magazine, Eight pistol rounds, One grenade and One Improvised Explosive Device (IED),” the police had said.
“This joint operation underscores the concerted efforts of the Security forces in combating terrorism and ensuring public safety. The apprehension of these terrorist associates and the seizure of arms and ammunition will significantly disrupt the malicious plans of anti-national elements in the district,” the police added.
In recent months, the Jammu and Kashmir region has seen surge in terror attacks.
Recently, an army convoy was attacked by terrorists in Kathua.
