Two soldiers of Army’s elite counter insurgency unit were killed and two others were injured in an ongoing gunbattle in Kulgam district of Jammu and Kashmir as the operation to find terrorists entered ninth day today.
The encounter, which started on August 1 at Akhal forest in Kulgam is turning out as the longest anti militancy operations in the Valley in recent years.
Officials said intense exchange of fire brokeout between militants and security forces last night when the joint teams moved in the dense forest to flush out the hiding terrorist . The small team of Army, they said, came under sudden fire from terrorists, resulting in injuries to four soldiers, two of whom succumbed.
” The injured jawans were airlifted to Army’s Srinagar 92 base hospital and two of them succumbed, ” a senior security official said.
The Army Srinagar based Chinar Corps confirmed the killing of two soldiers in line of duty. It identified the two slain soldiers as Lance Naik Pritpal Singh and Sepoy Harminder Singh.
“Chinar Corps honours the supreme sacrifice of the Bravehearts, L/Nk Pritpal Singh and Sep Harminder Singh, in line of duty for the Nation. Their courage and dedication will forever inspire us. IndianArmy expresses deepest condolences and stand in solidarity with the bereaved families, ” Chinar Corps posted on X.
The Army said the operation is going on.
Since August 1, the anti-militancy operation in the steep and dense forests in Akhal Kulgam has been going on. In the past nine day , two militants, one of them suspected to be local, were killed and several security men have got injured in the operation.
Over the past eight days , security forces have used drones to target suspected militant hideouts in the forested area, while Army helicopters have continued to hover overhead, monitoring the operation.
Officials today said security forces are treading slowly and cautiously in the dense forest area to avoid further casualties.
Meanwhile, J&K Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha paid tributes to the brave army personnel, who made supreme sacrifice in the ongoing operations against terrorists in Kulgam.
“I salute the indomitable courage of our brave hearts L/Nk Pritpal Singh and Sep Harminder Singh, who made the supreme sacrifice in the service of the motherland. Their valour, grit & determination will never be forgotten. My thoughts are with the bereaved families in this hour of grief,” LG said.
J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah laid the wreath and paid rich tribute to the brave soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice at Kulgam.
