Srinagar: The uptick in the terror incidents in Jammu and Kashmir continues to escalate, with fresh encounters between security forces and militants leaving four personnel injured in Kishtwar district on Sunday.
According to the army sources, the hiding militants are involved in the recent killing of two village defence guards in the region.
The encounter, which was triggered during a three-day “seek and destroy” operation in the Kuntwara and Keshwan forests, witnessed a group of three to four militants ambushing a search party. The gunfight resulted in injuries to four soldiers including a Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO), who were promptly evacuated to a hospital.
The White Knight Corps confirmed the encounter on X, stating that the operation targeted a militant group responsible for the abduction and killing of two villagers in Kishtwar just two days prior. The Kashmir Tigers, a group affiliated with the Jaish-e-Mohammad, had claimed responsibility for the killings. “On 10 Nov 24, based on specific intelligence input regarding the presence of terrorists, a joint operation was launched by security forces in the general area Bhart Ridge, Kishtwar. This is the same group which had abducted and killed 2 innocent villagers (village defence guards) in Kishtwar two days back. Contact was established and firefight ensued. Operation is in progress.”
The Jammu division and Chenab valley have seen a surge in militant activity in recent months.
Separately, another encounter took place in Srinagar on Sunday morning, when a joint team of J&K Police and Army came under fire during a search operation in the Zabarwan forest.
Following the gunfight in Srinagar, security forces conducted a thorough search of the area but failed to establish contact with the militants, leading them to believe the assailants had escaped.
