JCO among two soldiers killed in Kulgam gunfight

Two soldiers, including a junior commissioned officer (JCO), and two militants were killed in a gunbattle in Kulgam district of south Kashmir on Monday.

Police officials said based on specific intelligence, a joint team of the Jammu and Kashmir Police’s Special Operations Group, the Army and the CRPF launched a search and cordon operation in the Guddar forest area.

Sources told The Tribune that there were inputs about the presence of a group of militants in the vicinity of the area that saw one of the longest anti-terror operations last month. The gunfight had continued for 11 days. In that operation, two Army personnel and a militant were killed, while other militants had managed to escape.

Srinagar-based Chinar Corps wrote on X on Monday morning that after the joint search operation was launched, “vigilant troops observed suspicious activity”. Upon being challenged, “terrorists opened fire, prompting a fierce exchange of gunfire”.

The Army said during the gunfight, one terrorist was eliminated while a junior commissioned officer suffered injuries. Later, the Army said another terrorist had been killed in the operation while another soldier also suffered injuries.

“The identity of the terrorists is being ascertained,” the Army said.

The sources said on Monday evening, both injured soldiers succumbed to their injuries.

Late on Monday night, the Army posted on X, “The Chinar Corps honours the supreme sacrifice of the bravehearts — Subedar Perbhat Gaur and Lance Naik Narender Sindhu — in the line of duty for the nation. Their courage and dedication will forever inspire us.”

“The Army expresses deepest condolences and stands in solidarity with the bereaved families. The operation continues,” the Army said.

The sources said one of the two militants killed in the encounter was a foreign terrorist. The sources said it would be “premature” to say if group involved in Monday’s gunbattle was the same that had escaped last month.