The Kulgam district of Jammu and Kashmir witnessed intense violence as a fierce encounter between security forces and militants entered its second day on Tuesday. The operation began in the Guddar forest area after joint intelligence inputs from the Army, CRPF, and local police confirmed the presence of terrorists. According to officials, two soldiers — Subedar Perbhat Gaur and Lance Naik Narender Sindhu — lost their lives in the line of duty, while an Army major sustained injuries but is reported to be in stable condition. In the exchange of fire, two terrorists were also neutralized, one of them identified as a local and the other suspected to be a Pakistani national operating under the code name ‘Rehman Bhai’.
Security forces resumed the operation early Tuesday morning after a brief lull in firing overnight, with the area placed under strict cordon and surveillance to prevent the escape of remaining militants. The Director General of Police, Nalin Prabhat, visited the encounter site and commended the coordinated efforts of the Army, CRPF, and Jammu and Kashmir Police in neutralizing the threat. Officials said the operation was launched after vigilant troops noticed suspicious movements in the dense forests, which quickly escalated into heavy gunfire. The situation remains tense in Kulgam as reinforcements have been deployed and security personnel remain on high alert across the Valley.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah paid floral tributes to the two fallen soldiers at a solemn wreath-laying ceremony, acknowledging their “exemplary courage, unwavering valour, and ultimate sacrifice” in defending the nation. The Kulgam encounter highlights both the persistence of militancy in the region and the heavy cost borne by the security forces in countering it. Authorities emphasized that operations will continue until the area is fully sanitized, while local residents have been urged to remain indoors as a precautionary measure. The loss of brave soldiers has once again underscored the ongoing challenges faced in maintaining peace and security in Jammu and Kashmir.
