2 ultras killed, officer among 5 security personnel injured in Kulgam encounter

Two militants were killed and five security personnel, including an SP-rank police officer, injured in a gunfight which broke out in South Kashmir’s Kulgam district on Saturday.

According to police officials, the two slain militants are believed to be locals, and were affiliated with TRF (The Resistance Front). According to security agencies, the TRF is a shadow organisation of the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT).

Army’s Srinagar-based Chinar Corps stated that based on specific intelligence input, joint forces launched a search operation at Arigam village in the Devsar area of the district.

Security officials said as the area was cordoned off, the terrorists hiding inside a house opened fire on the searching party, triggering an encounter.

J&K Police DIG (South Kashmir) Javid Ahmad Matoo said the forces have recovered two bodies and the identification will be confirmed after the DNA reports.

He, however, said the security forces had inputs about the presence of two local militants, Ummais Ahmad Wani and Aqib Nazir Gojri, who were affiliated with the TRF outfit.

“They were required in many cases. We believe the killed terrorists are these two only,” he said, adding that they were active for the last many years and their killing is a big success.

Police sources also said four soldiers and a SP rank police officer were injured in the encounter and they are all stable. Brigadier Anirudh Chauhan, Commander, 2 Sect RR, who was in the Saturday’s press briefing said Army and Jammu and Kashmir Police were after the militant group since last month and the operation lasted for over 12 hours.