On Friday, two Indian Army soldiers lost their lives during a firefight in Kishtwar, just ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Jammu and Kashmir’s Doda district for a campaign rally.
Early Saturday morning, security forces engaged in an encounter with militants in Baramulla, resulting in the deaths of three terrorists. This operation followed the cordon-and-search mission that began late Friday night in the Chak Tapper Kreeri Pattan area of Baramulla district.
According to police sources, the terrorists opened fire on a search party, prompting a retaliatory response from the forces. The identities and affiliations of the killed terrorists are still under investigation.
The timing of the Baramulla encounter is significant, coinciding with Prime Minister Modi’s planned rally in Doda. This visit, which is the first by a sitting prime minister to Doda in 42 years, is being closely monitored with extensive security measures.
The Kashmir Zone Police updated on social media, stating, “The encounter is ongoing in Chak Tapper Kreeri Pattan. Police and security forces are actively engaged, and further details will be provided.” The Chinar Corps of the Indian Army confirmed that the operation was conducted based on specific intelligence about the presence of terrorists in the area.
Earlier, two soldiers, Sepoy Arvind Singh and Naib Subedar Vipan Kumar, were killed and two others injured during an encounter in Kishtwar. The casualties occurred as the Army and police executed a cordon-and-search operation in the Naidgham area of Chhatroo. The injured soldiers were initially treated locally before being airlifted to an Army hospital for further care.
The White Knight Corps expressed condolences, saying, “We honor the supreme sacrifice of our brave soldiers and extend our deepest sympathies to their families.”
Congress Vice-President Ravinder Sharma criticized the BJP’s handling of terrorism in the region, claiming that the resurgence of terrorist activities in Jammu reflects the government’s failure. Sharma asserted, “The Congress condemns these attacks and blames the BJP for the recent spike in terrorism in Jammu, which had been subdued for nearly two decades.”
