Jahangeer Ganaie
Kulgam, Jul 06 : Four terrorists and a soldier were killed in twin encounters that broke out between government forces and terrorists in the Modergam and Chinigam areas of south Kashmir’s Kulgam district early Saturday.
An official informed the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that a joint team of Police, Army’s 9 RR and CRPF launched a cordon and search operation based on specific information about the presence of terrorists in Modergam, Kulgam.
He said that as the joint teams of forces approached the suspected spot, the hiding terrorists fired upon them, which was retaliated, triggering an encounter. “During the exchange of fire, one soldier was injured and evacuated to the hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries. His identity is being ascertained,” the official said, adding that the exchange of fire is ongoing in the area, where two to three terrorists are believed to be trapped.
The official added, “Based on specific input about the presence of a group of terrorists, a joint team of Police, Army’s 1st RR, and CRPF launched a cordon and search operation in Chinigam, Frisal, Kulgam.”
As the joint teams of forces approached the suspected spot, the hiding terrorists fired upon them, which was retaliated, triggering another encounter, he said, adding, “During the exchange of fire, four terrorists were killed while one soldier was injured and hospitalised. The operation is ongoing, and one more terrorist is believed to be trapped inside.”
Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kashmir, V K Birdi, talking to reporters near the encounter spot in Kulgam, said four bodies have been sighted at the encounter spot in Chinigam, while firing is still ongoing. “The exact number of terrorists killed or trapped, along with their identities, can only be ascertained once the encounter concludes, but as of now, the fire is ongoing,” he said.
The IGP confirmed that there are fatalities and injuries on the side of the security forces, but the encounters are still in progress. “Both encounters are far from the national highway and security forces keep tracking terrorist movements,” he said.
Birdi added that the killing of four terrorists is a significant achievement for all security forces and that further details will be shared once the operations conclude.
As per the details available with the KNO, there were a total of 23 local terrorists active in Kashmir, with around 10 in Kulgam alone, where the two encounters are ongoing—(KNO)
