Operation on in Bandipora after militants open fire on security forces: Official

SRINAGAR — An anti-militancy operation is underway in the Nagmarg area of northern Kashmir’s Bandipora district, after militants opened indiscriminate fire on security forces, following a search operation on Tuesday.

The gunfight marks the seventh in Kashmir valley in the past few days, with eight militants killed in six encounters, ranging from Srinagar’s Khanyar to Shangus, Anantnag in south Kashmir and then north, including Bandipora, Kupwara and Sopore.

An unnamed official, quoted by the news agency KNO, said that the encounter broke out at Nagmarg when joint teams of security forces launched a search operation in the area.

“As the search party proceeded towards the suspected spot, the hiding terrorists fired indiscriminately upon them, which was retaliated, leading to an encounter,” he said.

The operation was in progress when the report was being filed. However, no casualty or injury was reported from either side.

Meanwhile, Chinar Corps of the Indian Army wrote on X, “On 12 Nov, based on specific intelligence inputs regarding the presence of terrorists, a joint operation launched by Indian Army and Jammu and Kashmir Police in general area Nagmarg Bandipora. Suspicious activity was observed by vigilant troops and on being challenged, terrorists opened indiscriminate fire. Own troops effectively retaliated. Operation is in progress,” it reads.

Timeline of Gunfights

On November 2, a top Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) commander was killed, while a few security personnel were injured in an encounter at Khanyar, Srinagar. Similarly, two militants were killed while M4 rifles, AK-47 rifles, grenades and three IEDs were recovered during a gunfight in the Shangus, Anantnag.

On November 5, a militant was killed while two security personnel were injured in the Bandipora encounter. On November 6, a militant was killed in Lolab Kupwara encounter while an AK series rifle was recovered from the slain.

On November 8, two militants were killed in the Sagipora, Sopore encounter. The operation was termed as a ‘major success’ by the security forces. On November 9, a militant was killed in Rampura Rajpura area of Sopore.