Anti-Terror Operation Enters Third Day in J&K’s Kulgam

Srinagar: An anti-terror operation in Kulgam district of Jammu and Kashmir entered its third day on Sunday, as joint security forces continue to search for militants hiding in the region. The operation has already resulted in the killing of two terrorists and critically injuring a third over the past two days.

The cordon and search operation (CASO) began on Friday in the Akhal forest area following intelligence inputs about terrorist presence. The operation is being carried out jointly by the Indian Army, CRPF, and J&K Police.

After the area was surrounded, security personnel came under fire, triggering an encounter. One terrorist was neutralized on Friday, and another on Saturday. Officials confirmed that a third militant was seriously wounded, though more could be hiding in the dense forest.

Gunfire exchanges continued intermittently overnight, raising concerns that either the injured terrorist or additional militants may still be in hiding. Security forces are employing drones, thermal imaging, and other surveillance tools to locate and eliminate remaining threats.

Authorities confirmed that the two slain terrorists were locals.

Wider Counterterrorism Push

The Kulgam operation is part of a broader crackdown on terrorism in the region. The Army remains on high alert along the Line of Control (LoC) while aggressive counter-insurgency operations are ongoing in the hinterlands.

A major breakthrough occurred recently when three Pakistani terrorists, including Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) commander Suleman Shah and his associates Abu Hamza and Jibran Bhai, were killed on July 28 in Dachigam National Park, near the Mahadev mountain range in Srinagar. The trio had been linked to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that claimed the lives of 26 civilians. The Army dubbed this effort ‘Operation Mahadev’.

In the aftermath of the Pahalgam attack, security forces have intensified operations targeting not only armed militants but also overground workers (OGWs), sympathisers, and financial networks supporting terrorism.

The crackdown also extends to drug traffickers and smugglers, as authorities believe that hawala money and drug proceeds are being used to fund terrorist activities in the union territory.

Officials emphasize that the current strategy goes beyond eliminating active militants and focuses on dismantling the entire ecosystem that enables terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir.

With inputs from IANS