At least two Army personnel, who were critically injured during an encounter with terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir’s Anantnag district, succumbed to their injuries late Saturday evening.

Three other injured soldiers have been rushed to the hospital. The Indian Army is yet to confirm the fatalities.

However, agency reports claimed two soldiers succumbed to their injuries while three others also injured in the ongoing operation are undergoing treatment. Security forces launched a cordon and search operation in Ahlan Gagarmandu in the Kokernag area of the south Kashmir district following information about the presence of terrorists there. 

The gunfight broke out after the terrorists opened fire at the search party personnel, who retaliated, the officials said.

The site of encounter was located deep inside the forests, around 10 kms from the nearest motorable road.

In the exchange of fire, two Army personnel were injured.

“Based on specific intelligence input, a Joint Operation was launched by the Indian Army, @JmuKmrPolice & @crpf_srinagar today in the general area Kokernag, Anantnag. Contact was established and a firefight ensued,” Srinagar-based Chinar Corps of the Indian Army said in a post on X.

“Two personnel have been injured and evacuated from the area,” it said.

Meanwhile, the Jammu and Kashmir Police on Saturday released sketches of four dreaded Pakistani terrorists who were last spotted near dhoks (temporary mud houses) in the upper reaches of Malhar, Bani and Seojdhar forests of Kathua district.

The sketches were released almost a month after a group of terrorists ambushed two vehicles of the Indian Army in which five soldiers were killed in action and five others received injuries in the Machhedi area of Basohli in Kathua district on July 8.

Since then the security forces have launched massive search operations in the area to flush out these terrorists hiding in the area. So far no major success has been achieved in the ongoing operations.

On Saturday, the Jammu and Kashmir police also announced a cash reward of `20 lakh for credible information about the whereabouts of these terrorists. In a post on X, J-K Police released sketches of four terrorists who were last seen in ‘dhoks’ of Malhar, Bani and Seojdhar forests in the upper reaches of the district.

“…a reward of Rs 5 lakhs (has been announced) on each terrorist for actionable information. Anyone with credible information on terrorists will also be suitably rewarded,” Kathua police said in its post.

“The identity of the informer will be kept secret so that more and more people come forward to assist the police, as the public’s help is crucial in preventing potential threats to national security,” a police spokesperson said.

Let’s work together for a safer community, he said.

The ambush in Kathua was followed by another attack by a separate group of terrorists in Desa forest in Doda district on July 15, resulting in the killing of four army personnel including a captain.

Police in Doda district had also released the sketches and cash reward of Rs 5 lakh each on four terrorists involved in the attack as efforts are continuing to hunt them down.

Earlier on June 9, nine passengers, including seven pilgrims returning from Shiv Khori temple, were killed by terrorists in Reasi district. The terrorists involved in the attack are also on the run despite a cash reward on their heads.