Srinagar: A militant and an army soldier were killed during an ongoing anti-militancy operation in the Lolab area of north Kashmir’s Kupwara district, which entered its second day on Wednesday, officials said.
He said security forces have intensified search operations in the surrounding areas to prevent any escape attempts by militants.
An official said that the operation was launched based on specific intelligence inputs, with a joint team from the Indian Army and Jammu & Kashmir Police searching in the general area of Kowut (Trimukha Top) in Lolab, Kupwara.
The search operation led to a firefight, during which contact was established with the hiding militants. In the ensuing gunfight, a militant was killed, and a Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO), identified as Dilawar Khan, was injured and later succumbed to his injuries, he said.
The operation was paused overnight and resumed at the first light of the day.
The Indian Army’s Chinar Corps posted on the social media site ‘X’, saying, “Based on specific input regarding the presence of militants in the general area Kowut, Kupwara, a Joint Search Operation was launched by #IndianArmy & @JmuKmrPolice on days leading up to 23 July 24.”
It added, “On 24 July, suspicious movement was observed and challenged by vigilant troops, in response to which militants opened indiscriminate fire. In the ensuing firefight, one militant has been eliminated. The operation is in progress.”
In addition to the ongoing operation, security forces have intensified searches in the peripheral areas, including the Sopore woods, to prevent militants from escaping from Lolab to Sopore.
Trimukha Top, a forest area, serves as a critical link connecting Lolab with Baramulla and Bandipora districts and is often used by militants to move between districts after infiltrating from across the Line of Control (LoC).
The operation is still ongoing, with additional reinforcements called in to assist, the official said, adding that further updates will be provided as the situation develops
