Kulgam Encounter Underway as Security Forces Corner Trapped Terrorists Amidst Intensified Operations

New Delhi: A gunfight is currently in progress in the Akhal forest area of Devsar locality in South Kashmir's Kulgam district, as security forces have engaged terrorists. Preliminary reports indicate that two terrorists are believed to be trapped by the joint security forces in the region.This ongoing encounter unfolds amidst a heightened period of counter-terrorism operations in Jammu and Kashmir, referred to as 'Operation Mahadev'. Earlier this week, this intensive crackdown led to the elimination of three terrorists who were reportedly involved in the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam. A joint team comprising personnel from the Jammu and Kashmir Police, the Army, and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) is actively involved in the Kulgam operation, with the exchange of fire ongoing.In recent days, Indian security forces have significantly bolstered their counterterrorism efforts, resulting in the neutralisation of several militants across separate encounters. This intensified offensive includes operations like the one that foiled an infiltration attempt along the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch district a few days prior. In that incident, late Tuesday night in the Kalsian-Gulpur area of the Degwar sector, security forces intercepted a group of two to three militants attempting to cross the border, resulting in a gunfight where two terrorists were killed.A major breakthrough in these operations was achieved on July 28, when Indian forces, under the codename 'Operation Mahadev', gunned down three Pakistani terrorists in a forested area near Harwan, on the outskirts of Srinagar. These terrorists were identified as being responsible for the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam. Union Home Minister Amit Shah confirmed in the Lok Sabha that all three slain militants were senior members of the Pakistan-based banned outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba. He identified Suleiman as the mastermind behind the Pahalgam attack, with Afghan and Jibran being the other two. Their identities were corroborated using information from individuals previously arrested by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) for aiding the attackers. These recent successful operations are viewed as a critical advancement in the government's ongoing strategy to dismantle terror networks operating within the region.