Srinagar: A terrorist was killed in an ongoing encounter between security forces and militants in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kulgam district, the Indian Army confirmed on Saturday. The operation, codenamed “Operation Akhal”, was launched following specific intelligence inputs about terrorist movement in the forested Akhal area of south Kashmir.
According to the Army’s Chinar Corps, the encounter began on Friday after security forces initiated a cordon-and-search operation based on actionable intelligence. The operation turned into a gunbattle when terrorists opened fire on the approaching troops. “Intermittent and intense fire fight continued through the night. Alert troops responded with calibrated fire and tightened the noose while maintaining contact. One terrorist has been neutralised so far. Operation Akhal continues,” the Army said in a post on X (formerly Twitter).
This latest gunfight comes just days after security forces eliminated three top Lashkar-e-Taiba operatives in Operation Mahadev, carried out on July 28 in the Mulnar area near Srinagar. Among those neutralised were Suleiman alias Asif, believed to be the mastermind behind the April 22 Pahalgam massacre in which 26 people — mostly tourists — were killed at Baisaran meadows. The other two terrorists were identified as Jibran, involved in the Sonamarg Tunnel attack last year, and Hamza Afghani, all linked to the Pakistan-based terror outfit.
The April 22 attack prompted India to launch Operation Sindoor on May 7, targeting terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir through precision strikes. These coordinated efforts reflect a broader, intensified crackdown on terrorism in the region.
In another counter-infiltration success, two more terrorists were gunned down on Thursday near the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch district. According to the police, the two had recently crossed over from Pakistan and were intercepted shortly after infiltrating into Indian territory.
Security forces remain on high alert in Jammu and Kashmir as operations continue in multiple sectors to dismantle terror networks and prevent further attacks.
