Srinagar: Four terrorists and two soldiers were killed in two encounters that broke out between security forces and terrorists in the Modergam and Chinigam areas of south Kashmir’s Kulgam district early Saturday.
Though official sources confirmed that one soldier has been killed and two others injured, sources said that two soldiers have succumbed to injuries and one is injured.
Police spokesperson said a joint team of police, Army’s 9 RR and CRPF launched a cordon and search operation based on specific information about the presence of terrorists in Modergam, Kulgam.
He said that as the joint teams of forces approached the suspected spot, the hiding terrorists fired upon them, which was retaliated, triggering an encounter. “During the exchange of fire, one soldier was injured and evacuated to the hospital, where he succumbed to injuries. His identity is being ascertained,” the official said, adding that the exchange of fire is going on in the area, where two to three terrorists are believed to be trapped.
The official added, “Based on specific input about the presence of a group of terrorists, a joint team of police, Army’s 1 RR, and CRPF launched a cordon and search operation in Chinigam, Frisal, Kulgam.”
As the joint teams of forces approached the suspected spot, the hiding terrorists fired upon them, which was retaliated, triggering another encounter, he said, adding, “during the exchange of fire, four terrorists were killed while one soldier was injured and hospitalised. The operation is going on, and one more terrorist is believed to be trapped inside.”
Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kashmir, V K Birdi, talking to reporters near the encounter spot in Kulgam, said four bodies have been sighted at the encounter spot in Chinigam, while firing is still ongoing.
“The exact number of terrorists killed or trapped, along with their identities, can only be ascertained once the encounter concludes, but as of now, the fire is going on,” he said.
The IGP confirmed that there are fatalities and injuries on the side of the security forces, but the encounters are still in progress. “Both encounters are far from the national highway and security forces keep tracking terrorist movements,” he said.
Birdi added that the killing of four terrorists is a significant achievement for all security forces and that further details will be shared once the operations conclude.
