Two terrorists, including one Pakistani, believed to be the cadre of the banned Lashkar-e-Tayyeba (LeT) terrorist outfit, were killed in a fierce gunfight with a joint team of security forces in the Guddar forest area of South Kashmir’s Kulgam district on Monday. A Junior Commissioned Officer of the Indian Army and one more jawan received injuries during the encounter.
In Jammu, a Pakistani intruder was captured by the Border Security Force (BSF) along the International Border (IB) in RS Pura sector late Sunday night. A formal protest was lodged with Pakistan over the incident, the BSF said on Monday.
The Pakistani intruder was later handed over to the Jammu and Kashmir Police for necessary follow up and investigation to ascertain the motive behind cross border infiltration.
In Kulgam, security forces launched a search operation in the Guddar forest area following information about the presence of terrorists in the area. However, the search operation turned into an encounter after the terrorists opened fire at the positions of the security forces.
In a post on X, Srinagar based Chinar Corps said, “Based on specific intelligence input by JKP, joint search operation was launched by the IndianArmy, and Jammu and Kashmir Police & CRPF in Guddar forest of Kulgam”.
It said troops observed suspicious activity and, upon being challenged, terrorists opened fire, “prompting a fierce exchange of gunfire during which one terrorist has been eliminated and a junior commissioned officer suffered injuries”.
The Army further said another terrorist was shot dead in the ongoing operation, taking the toll of terrorists to two.
“One more terrorist has been eliminated in the ongoing Operation at Guddar forest of Kulgam. One soldier suffered injuries and is being evacuated for requisite medical care. Identity of terrorists is being ascertained,” it said.
The Army said the operation is still in progress.
Meanwhile, BSF spokesman in Jammu said a Pakistani intruder was captured near the Suchetgarh Octroi outpost.
The intruder, identified as Siraj Khan hailed from village 27-Chak in Bhalwal tehsil of Punjab province in Pakistan. He was seen crossing the border and aggressively approaching the border fence in Suchetgarh tehsil at 9.10 pm on Sunday, the BSF said in a statement.
The intruder was warned by the alert troops but he paid no heed. Sensing a threat, the troops fired at him and later took him into custody, it said.
According to the BSF, two Pakistani currency notes of Rs 20 and 10 were recovered from the possession of the intruder, who has been handed over to police.
“A protest is being lodged with the (Pakistani) counterparts,” the BSF said.
The force has intensified vigil all along the IB in the Jammu frontier following damage to border fencing and posts at various places due to the recent flash floods.