SRINAGAR: Two Army soldiers died and four others were wounded during a shootout with “highly trained Pakistani terrorists” in the mountainous forests of Kapran Garol, perched at over 10,000ft, in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district Saturday afternoon.
Two civilians were also wounded in the crossfire. “The identities and potential terrorist affiliations of the wounded civilians are being investigated,” an official said.
The twin deaths raised the security toll in terrorist violence in J&K to 16 since May.Earlier fatalities included three soldiers in separate gunfights in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district on July 24 and 27, and in Poonch district on July 23. On July 15, a Captain and three soldiers died in Doda district, and five soldiers were killed in an ambush on a two-truck patrol in Kathua district on July 8.
A CRPF constable was killed in a frontier village in Kathua on June 12, while Corporal Vikky Pahade died in an ambush on a two-truck IAF convoy in Poonch district on May 4.
Security forces have intensified their operations in Kokernag’s forests following the July 15 attack in Doda. The Army said the terrorists, tracked through human and electronic intelligence, crossed the Kishtwar range into south Kashmir on Aug 5, escaping the manhunt in Doda.
“On the night of Aug 9 and 10, precise operations were launched in the mountainous terrain, where the terrorists were holed up. At 1pm on Aug 10, security forces observed suspicious movement. When challenged, the terrorists responded with indiscriminate firing,” the Army said in a statement.
The Kapran Garol area of Kokernag presented a challenging environment for security forces “due to its thick foliage, large boulders, and rugged terrain”. The hiding terrorists opened fire, wounding six soldiers. “Two of the soldiers suffered fatal shots. They were shifted to a hospital, but couldn’t be saved,” a police officer said.
The other wounded men are said to be stable and responding to treatment. The slain soldiers were not identified till this report was filed.
Reinforcements have been sent and a seek-and-kill operation launched against the terrorists who escaped taking advantage of the weather and the terrain. “The operation is expected to continue through the night as forces are working to secure the area,” the Army said.
This was the second fatal attack in Kokernag in the past year. In Sept 2023, four security personnel — including Col Manpreet Singh, Major Ashish and J&K police DSP Humayun Bhat — were killed in a week-long operation. Two terrorists, including a senior commander of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), were gunned down in the counteroffensive.
In Jammu division, police released Saturday sketches of four suspected terrorists who were recently spotted in “dhoks” (huts used by nomads) in the higher reaches of Kathua district. A cash reward of Rs 5 lakh has been announced for information on each of these men.
“The identity of the informer will be kept secret. Public help is crucial in preventing potential threats to national security,” said Kathua SSP Anayat Ali.
Nomadic pastoralists build small huts to shelter from the weather while grazing livestock in the mountains. Vacant dhoks dot the landscape and have been reportedly used by terrorists seeking temporary shelter.
Security forces have intensified searches in the dense forests and mountains of Jammu division following a deadly ambush on a bus in Reasi district on June 9. The attack claimed the lives of seven pilgrims, local driver Vijay Kumar, and the conductor.
J&K authorities had announced a job on compassionate grounds to Kumar’s wife Renu Sharma. Lt governor Manoj Sinha handed Renu the appointment letter Saturday, assuring the family of all possible administrative support.
(Inputs from Sanjay Khajuria in Jammu)
Two civilians were also wounded in the crossfire. “The identities and potential terrorist affiliations of the wounded civilians are being investigated,” an official said.
The twin deaths raised the security toll in terrorist violence in J&K to 16 since May.Earlier fatalities included three soldiers in separate gunfights in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district on July 24 and 27, and in Poonch district on July 23. On July 15, a Captain and three soldiers died in Doda district, and five soldiers were killed in an ambush on a two-truck patrol in Kathua district on July 8.
A CRPF constable was killed in a frontier village in Kathua on June 12, while Corporal Vikky Pahade died in an ambush on a two-truck IAF convoy in Poonch district on May 4.
Security forces have intensified their operations in Kokernag’s forests following the July 15 attack in Doda. The Army said the terrorists, tracked through human and electronic intelligence, crossed the Kishtwar range into south Kashmir on Aug 5, escaping the manhunt in Doda.
“On the night of Aug 9 and 10, precise operations were launched in the mountainous terrain, where the terrorists were holed up. At 1pm on Aug 10, security forces observed suspicious movement. When challenged, the terrorists responded with indiscriminate firing,” the Army said in a statement.
The Kapran Garol area of Kokernag presented a challenging environment for security forces “due to its thick foliage, large boulders, and rugged terrain”. The hiding terrorists opened fire, wounding six soldiers. “Two of the soldiers suffered fatal shots. They were shifted to a hospital, but couldn’t be saved,” a police officer said.
The other wounded men are said to be stable and responding to treatment. The slain soldiers were not identified till this report was filed.
Reinforcements have been sent and a seek-and-kill operation launched against the terrorists who escaped taking advantage of the weather and the terrain. “The operation is expected to continue through the night as forces are working to secure the area,” the Army said.
This was the second fatal attack in Kokernag in the past year. In Sept 2023, four security personnel — including Col Manpreet Singh, Major Ashish and J&K police DSP Humayun Bhat — were killed in a week-long operation. Two terrorists, including a senior commander of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), were gunned down in the counteroffensive.
In Jammu division, police released Saturday sketches of four suspected terrorists who were recently spotted in “dhoks” (huts used by nomads) in the higher reaches of Kathua district. A cash reward of Rs 5 lakh has been announced for information on each of these men.
“The identity of the informer will be kept secret. Public help is crucial in preventing potential threats to national security,” said Kathua SSP Anayat Ali.
Nomadic pastoralists build small huts to shelter from the weather while grazing livestock in the mountains. Vacant dhoks dot the landscape and have been reportedly used by terrorists seeking temporary shelter.
Security forces have intensified searches in the dense forests and mountains of Jammu division following a deadly ambush on a bus in Reasi district on June 9. The attack claimed the lives of seven pilgrims, local driver Vijay Kumar, and the conductor.
J&K authorities had announced a job on compassionate grounds to Kumar’s wife Renu Sharma. Lt governor Manoj Sinha handed Renu the appointment letter Saturday, assuring the family of all possible administrative support.
(Inputs from Sanjay Khajuria in Jammu)