In course of the security forces' drive to sanitise Jammu and Kashmir ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Srinagar visit for this year's International Yoga Day function on June 21, two terrorists were gunned down in the Hadipora area of PD Sopore in North Kashmir's Baramulla district. Two security personnel, including one Army jawan, also received injuries during the operation.

Meanwhile, the Jammu and Kashmir Police have declared Srinagar city as a temporary "red zone", and banned the operation of drones ahead of PM's visit. This will be Modi's first visit to Jammu and Kashmir after being sworn in as the Prime Minister for the third time.

Till the time of filing of this report, the identity of the slain terrorists could not be ascertained as the security forces were still conducting searches in the area and were yet to retrieve the bodies of the slain terrorists from the encounter site.

Chinar Corps, in a post on X, stated that the operation was conducted on receipt of specific information about the presence of terrorists in the area. "On specific intelligence input regarding the presence of terrorists, a Joint operation was launched by the Indian Army and Jammu and Kashmir police

on Wednesday in the Hadipora area of PD Sopore; two terrorists were eliminated; the operation is still in progress."

Meanwhile, in a significant development, the Jammu and Kashmir police have arrested one person for harbouring terrorists behind the terror attack on a pilgrim bus in Reasi on June 9.

Addressing a press conference in Reasi SSP Mohita Sharma said, "A breakthrough has been achieved in the case of the terrorist attack on the pilgrim bus which was coming from Shiv Khori on 9th June. In this case, one accomplish of the Reasi terrorists identified as Hakam, 45, has been arrested by the J&K Police at Reasi.

The arrested man has been guilty of harboring terrorists multiple times. Besides providing food and shelter, the said person also acted as a guide helping the terrorists reach the spot of the incident. The arrested person is a prized catch as he helped the terrorists in execution of attacks. Further interrogation and investigation of the case is going on"

According to a statement issued by the Prime Minister's Office (PMO),  Prime Minister Modi will participate in the 'Empowering Youth, Transforming J&K' event at Sher-i-Kashmir International Conference Centre (SKICC) in Srinagar at around 6 pm on June 20.

Prime Minister Modi will inaugurate and lay the foundation stone of multiple development projects in J&K. He will also launch the Competitiveness Improvement in Agriculture and Allied Sectors Project (JKCIP), the statement said.

The prime minister will participate in the 10th International Day of Yoga event at SKICC in Srinagar at around 6: 30 am on June 21. He will address the gathering on the occasion and take part in the yoga session thereafter, it said.

This year's Yoga Day event underscores yoga's profound impact on young minds and bodies. The celebration aims to unite thousands in the practice of yoga, promoting health and wellness on a global scale.

More than 7,000 people from different walks of life will join Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday to celebrate the 10th International Yoga Day on the banks of the famous Dal Lake in Jammu and Kashmir.

Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha said it is an honour for the entire Kashmir valley to have the prime minister here on International Yoga Day.

"It's an honour for the whole Valley to have Prime Minister Narendra Modi here on International Yoga Day. He will perform Yoga on the banks of Dal Lake with more than 7,000 people who will participate in the event on June 21," Sinha said.

In Doda, a joint team of the Jammu & Kashmir Police and 4 Rashtriya Rifles successfully apprehended the civilian responsible for snatching a service weapon of a Special Police Officer (SPO) within 24 hours of the incident.

The police said that the civilian was caught in a forest area near the Bhalla area of Doda district.

Senior superintendent of police, Doda, Javed Iqbal, said a civilian identified as Muhammad Rafi had been arrested near his village.

Mohammad Rafi had fled away with an AK-47 rifle of Safar Hussain, a Special Police Officer, when the duo was on their way to Trown area in Bhalla on Tuesday.

When they reached Pul Doda, Safar de-boarded the vehicle to buy some essentials, while Rafi fled away with the weapon.