Srinagar : Security forces in north Kashmir’s Sopore killed two militants in a joint operation at the Sagipora area on Friday. The operation, which was launched based on intelligence inputs regarding the presence of militants in the area, also resulted in the recovery of a huge cache of arms and ammunition.
Speaking to reporters, the Commander of the 7th Sector Counter Insurgency Force (Kilo), Deepak Mohan said two militants were killed. He described the operation as a “major success” for the security forces.
“Over the past few days, we had received specific intelligence inputs regarding militancy related activities in Sopore. Acting on this information, a joint operation was launched by the Indian Army, Jammu & Kashmir Police and CRPF forces. The area was cordoned off, and during the search operation, we encountered suspicious movements,” he said.
Mohan, who was accompanied by the Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of North Kashmir, Maqsood Ul Zaman and Superintendent of Police (SP) Sopore, Divya D, said the militants opened fire on the Army troops while taking cover behind local settlements. The alert security forces retaliated effectively, taking care to minimise harm to civilians. “We managed to control the situation and evacuated nearby houses to ensure the safety of the local population,” he added.
The troops continued to monitor the movement of the militants using quadcopters, and on the morning of November 8, the militants resumed firing. Security forces responded swiftly and neutralised the militants, the commander said. “We ensured the safety of local residents throughout the operation.”
While the identities of the slain militants are still being ascertained, the officials believe they were part of a militant group that had been active in north Kashmir for some time. “The identification process is still ongoing, but our sources and the recovered weapons suggest that these militants were part of a larger network operating in the region. Their elimination is a huge success for our forces,” Mohan said.
The recovery of arms included two AK-series rifles with nine magazines, a pistol, a grenade and other war-like stores.
Commander Mohan also credited the success of the operation to the unwavering support of the local population. Their support in maintaining peace and order in the region is invaluable, he added.
This operation follows a string of successful counter-insurgency efforts in recent weeks. “In collaboration with Jammu and Kashmir Police, we have been able to track and neutralise several known militants involved in militancy in north Kashmir,” Mohan said.
Regarding the identification and possible affiliation of the killed militants, the DIG Maqsood Ul Zaman said that investigations are still in progress. “The operation has just concluded, and the process of identifying these individuals is underway. We will confirm their affiliation after a thorough investigation,” he said.
When asked if the slain militants were part of the same group involved in recent attacks in Bandipora and Kupwara, Zaman said it was too early to draw conclusions. “We are investigating the matter, and a case has been registered. Further investigation will clarify whether they were part of that same group or not,” he added.
The DIG North Kashmir said there had been reports of infiltration in the area, which could suggest that the militants involved in this operation were from a newly infiltrated group. “Everything will be clarified once the investigation is complete,” he said.
This marks the third major gunfight in north Kashmir in recent days. Earlier, one militant was killed in an operation in the Bandipora forests, while another was neutralised in the Lolab area of Kupwara
