Three Terrorists Killed in Pulwama Encounter; Second Operation in 48 Hours in Jammu & Kashmir
National: Three unidentified terrorists were gunned down by security forces during an encounter in the Nader Tral area of Awantipora in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pulwama district on Thursday.
The gunfight broke out after security personnel launched a cordon and search operation based on credible intelligence inputs about terrorist presence in the area.
According to police officials, the operation escalated when the hiding terrorists opened fire on the forces. The troops retaliated effectively, neutralizing all three militants. The identities and affiliations of the slain terrorists are yet to be confirmed, and a search for further weapons or intelligence is ongoing.
This is the second major anti-terror operation in the union territory within a span of 48 hours. On Tuesday, three Lashkar-e-Taiba operatives were killed in a fierce encounter in Shopian district. Among the dead were Shahid Kuttay and Adnan Shafi, both local recruits. Kuttay, who joined Lashkar in 2023, was linked to several violent incidents, including a shooting that injured two German tourists and the murder of a BJP Sarpanch. Shafi, a more recent recruit, was allegedly involved in the killing of a non-local labourer.
Security forces recovered three AK-47 rifles along with a cache of arms and ammunition during the Shopian operation, underscoring the continued threat posed by terror outfits attempting to destabilize the region. Authorities remain on high alert as anti-terror operations continue in sensitive zones across South Kashmir.