File photo of a counterinsurgency operation in J&K.
Jammu/Udhampur: Over the past two days, Jammu & Kashmir has witnessed a series of intense encounters between security forces and militants, resulting in casualties on both sides. These operations, conducted in both the Kashmir and Jammu divisions, reflect the rising incidents of militancy in the Union territory.
Kulgam encounter
In Kulgam district, southern Kashmir, two militants were killed, and four security personnel, including a senior police official, were injured during an encounter that began on Saturday. The operation, which involved the Indian Army and Jammu & Kashmir Police, took place in the Adigam village area. The militants, believed to be part of a larger group, engaged the security forces in a fierce gunfight that lasted several hours.
The encounter started when security forces launched a cordon-and-search operation based on specific intelligence inputs. The militants opened fire, leading to a prolonged exchange of gunfire. The injured security personnel, including an additional superintendent of police (traffic), were immediately evacuated and are reported to be in stable condition.
Kathua operation
Meanwhile, in the Jammu division, security forces and the Jammu & Kashmir Police conducted joint operations over two days, which began on Saturday. During one operation in the forests of Billawar in Kathua district’s Mandli area, the security forces, comprising the Indian Army, Jammu & Kashmir Police, and the Central Reserve Police Force, established contact with the militants at around 5.30pm on Saturday, which led to an intense exchange of gunfire.
In the ensuing gunbattle, one militant, identified as a foreign national, was killed. Later, the body of another militant was recovered on Sunday. A police head constable, Bashir Ahmed, was killed, and two police officers, including a deputy superintendent of police (DSP) and an assistant sub-inspector (ASI), were injured. The two injured policemen are reported to be in a stable condition.
The operation, which is still ongoing, has also seen the recovery of war-like stores.
These incidents reflect the rising cases of militancy in the Union territory. In just September this year, 12 encounters have been reported in Jammu & Kashmir, which saw at least a dozen casualties (three Army soldiers, one police officer, and eight militants). The latest encounters come amid ongoing security concerns over the annual Amarnath Yatra.
