Kulgam (J&K), Aug 4: Security forces remain locked in a protracted encounter with a group of terrorists in the forests near Akhal in South Kashmir’s Kulgam district. Now in its fourth day, the operation—launched last Friday by the Army, CRPF, and Jammu & Kashmir Police following credible intelligence—has been hampered by the region’s difficult terrain and thick canopy.
- Casualties so far:
- Terrorists: One body recovered; a second confirmed hit but not yet retrieved. Intelligence suggests up to five militants were present, including two or three foreign fighters skilled in jungle warfare.
- Security personnel: Three troops injured during intermittent exchanges of fire and occasional blasts.
- Operational challenges: Forces are proceeding with extreme caution due to multiple firing points and dense cover. Drones and helicopter-mounted surveillance have been deployed to pinpoint militant positions.
- Context: This marks the third major encounter in a week. Earlier operations included the elimination of three terrorists linked to the April 22 Pahalgam massacre and the killing of two infiltrators from Pakistan near the Line of Control in Poonch on Thursday.
Inspector General of Police (Kashmir) V.K. Birdi noted the ongoing difficulty in recovering all bodies:
“It’s a difficult terrain and a dense forest area. We have observed a second militant casualty but will recover the body when safe to do so.”
Security forces continue the operation, determined to clear the last pockets of resistance and restore normalcy to the Kulgam forests.
