Three Indian Army paratroopers sustained injuries during a fierce encounter in the forested Chaas area of Kishtwar, Jammu and Kashmir, on Sunday, according to official reports. This incident adds to the increasing frequency of violent confrontations in the region, as another encounter unfolded in the Harwan area of Srinagar on the same day.
The operations in Kishtwar were initiated in response to information regarding the presence of terrorists who are believed to be linked to the recent killing of two Village Defence Guards on November 18. The Indian Army, with support from the 11 Rashtriya Rifles, undertook the operation aiming to flush out these armed militants. Early reports suggest that they are currently trapped in the ongoing skirmish.
In Srinagar, the encounter began at approximately 9 am and took place in the forested area between Dachigam and the upper reaches of Nishat. The operation was launched following specific intelligence regarding the presence of terrorists, which led to an exchange of gunfire. As of now, no casualties have been reported among security forces or civilians during this particular incident. The Jammu and Kashmir Police conveyed this information via a tweet, stating that further details would be provided as the situation develops.
The recent weeks have seen a surge in violent incidents across Jammu and Kashmir, with several encounters resulting in the deaths of both terrorists and security personnel. Noteworthy incidents include the killing of a terrorist and the entrapment of two to three others during a separate encounter in Sopore on Saturday, where security forces were engaged in a search operation.
Earlier, on November 8, two terrorists were eliminated in Baramulla during an anti-terror combing operation based on actionable intelligence. The situation has intensified since November 2, when three terrorists, including a notable commander of the terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba, were killed in two coordinated anti-militancy operations in Kashmir. Furthermore, this spate of violence has also seen two policemen and two Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel injured during similar operations.
The rise in terrorist activities culminated in the tragic kidnapping and murder of two members of the Village Defence Group on November 8 in Kishtwar, with the ‘Kashmir Tigers,’ a faction of the Jaish-e Mohammad, claiming responsibility for the attack.
In light of these escalating incidents, Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi has been proactive in assessing the security landscape, having conducted a review of the situation in Kathua district on Saturday, underscoring the seriousness with which authorities are addressing the challenges posed by terrorist activities in the region.
