Five Terrorists Killed, Two Soldiers Injured As Encounter Breaks Out In J&K's Kulgam

Five terrorists were killed in an encounter with security forces in the Kulgam district of Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday, according to officials cited by news agency PTI.

Two members of the security forces were injured during the operation, the officials confirmed.

Photo Credit: PTI

The gunfight began after security forces launched a cordon and search operation in the Kadder area of Behibagh in the district on Wednesday night, following intelligence reports about the presence of suspected terrorists.

However, the operation escalated into an encounter when the terrorists opened fire on the security forces, who responded with gunfire.

"On 19 December 24, based on specific intelligence input regarding the presence of terrorists, a Joint Operation was launched by the Indian Army and Jammu and Kashmir Police at Kader, Kulgam. Suspicious activity was observed by vigilant troops and, when challenged, terrorists opened indiscriminate and heavy fire. Our troops effectively retaliated," said the Indian Army's Chinar Corps in a post on X.

Earlier this month, a Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorist, allegedly involved in a deadly attack at a tunnel construction site in central Kashmir's Gagangeer in October, was killed in a gunfight with security forces in a forest area near Srinagar.

Seven unarmed individuals, including labourers and staff from a contractor working on a tunnel for the strategic Srinagar-Leh national highway, were killed when terrorists opened fire at the Gagangeer site in Gund after the workers returned to the campsite in the evening.

This attack marked the deadliest assault on civilians in Jammu and Kashmir since the June 9 incident in Reasi, when nine pilgrims died after the bus they were travelling in plunged into a valley after coming under gunfire from terrorists.

On November 23, Baramulla Police, in a joint operation with security forces, dismantled a terror hideout in the Kunzer area of Baramulla district.

On November 9, another joint operation was launched by the Army and Jammu and Kashmir Police in the Rajpura area of Sopore, Baramulla, based on specific intelligence regarding the presence of terrorists.