The gunfight between security forces and terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kulgam district stretched into its ninth day on Saturday, claiming the lives of two Indian Army personnel overnight.
The Chinar Corps identified the fallen soldiers as Lance Naik Pritpal Singh and Sepoy Harminder Singh, paying tribute to their bravery and extending condolences to their families. Eleven other security personnel have been injured since the start of the operation on August 1.
Named Operation Akhal, the joint Army and police offensive was launched after intelligence inputs indicated terrorist presence in the Akhal forest area. So far, two terrorists have been killed in the encounter.
Security forces have deployed drones, helicopters, and para commandos to track and neutralize the militants, with the operation being supervised on the ground by senior officers including Jammu and Kashmir Police chief Nalin Prabhat and Northern Army Commander Lt Gen Pratik Sharma.
Authorities say the operation will continue until the last terrorist is neutralized, making it one of the longest-running anti-terror missions in the valley in recent years.
