Massive search ops underway in Kulgam
Jammu: Three Army personnel were killed in an encounter with militants in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kulgam district while a terrorist was killed in an encounter with security forces in the Rajouri district. As per reports, 3 Army personnel were killed in an encounter with militants in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kulgam district on Friday, officials said.
Security forces launched a cordon and search operation in the higher reaches of the Halan forest area of Kulgam district in south Kashmir following inputs about the presence of militants there, a police official said.
He said the search operation turned into an encounter after the militants fired at the security forces, who retaliated.
In the exchange of fire, three security forces personnel were injured, the official said, adding, they succumbed during treatment.
“Operation Halan #Kulgam. On specific inputs regarding presence of terrorists on higher reaches of Halan in Kulgam, operations launched by Security Forces on 04 Aug 23. In exchange of firing with terrorists, three personnel sustained injuries and later succumbed. Search operations are continuing,” Srinagar-based Chinar Corps of the Army said in a tweet.
The official said reinforcement has been rushed to the area and the search operation has been intensified.
In this regard, Security forces launched a massive search operation on Saturday to trace a group of terrorists who killed three Army personnel during an encounter a day earlier in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kulgam district, officials said.
Friday’s encounter between security personnel and the terrorists occurred in the higher reaches of the Halan forest area of Kulgam in south Kashmir.
The gunfight ensued after the terrorists fired upon a security forces party, which had erected a tent in the area as part of an area domination exercise, the officials said.
They said a tight cordon was maintained throughout the night and the search operation was launched on Saturday morning to trace the ultras, believed to be three in number.
The officials said the group is believed to have reached Kulgam district through the Pir Panjal range. They said additional troops have been rushed to the area and the search has been intensified. Another search operation has been launched in the Kund area of the district after a blast-like sound was heard there, the officials said. Some Army vehicles were passing through the area when the sound was heard, they said. A police team has rushed to the spot and further details were awaited, the officials added. On Saturday, a terrorist was killed in an encounter with security forces in the Rajouri district of Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday, Additional Director General of Police (ADGP), Jammu, Mukesh Singh said. The encounter started during a cordon and search operation by the police and the Army at Gundha-Khawas village in the Budhal area following information about the presence of terrorists there, officials said. They said a few gunshots were heard from the besieged village and reinforcements were rushed to the scene. The ADGP said in Jammu that the encounter was going on. “According to feedback from the ground, one terrorist has been killed so far,” the officer said.
