Kulgam gunbattle enters second week

SRINAGAR — The anti-militancy operation in the steep and dense forests in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kulgam district entered its second week today, with security forces, including the Army’s elite units, engaged in a prolonged battle against a group of battle-hardened ultras. This is now the longest such operation in the region this year.

Over the past seven days, two militants, one suspected to be local, have been killed, while six security personnel have been injured in the ongoing operation in the Akhal Devsar forest area of Kulgam.

Officials said firing continued throughout the night and no injury or casualty was reported in the last 24 hours.

Authorities have shifted some civilians from Akhal to safer locations and deputed nodal officers near the encounter site to assist locals in case of any emergency.

Some evacuated residents said they were unable to sleep for several nights due to relentless firing in the area.

The operation began on August 1 after the Army, Police, and CRPF launched a joint offensive based on specific intelligence about the presence of four to five militants in the forest. In the initial gunbattle, one militant was killed.

“The operation is going on,” said a senior police officer.

In the past week, security forces have deployed drones to target suspected militant hideouts, while Army helicopters have hovered overhead to monitor the operation. Senior security officials have been regularly visiting the area to review progress.

Senior security officials have been regularly visiting the area to review the anti-militancy operation.

Army Northern Commander Lt. Gen. Pratik Sharma was briefed about the operation during his visit to South Kashmir yesterday. J&K Director General of Police Nalin Prabhat and Inspector General of Police V.K. Birdi also visited the encounter site yesterday.