Three Terrorists Neutralised in Kulgam Forest Operation Akhal Encounter
Three terrorists were eliminated by security forces in a significant encounter during Operation Akhal in the Akhal forest area of the Devsar locality, situated in South Kashmir's Kulgam district. This joint operation was executed by the Indian Army, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), and Jammu and Kashmir Police following credible intelligence reports.
The confrontation commenced on Friday evening when security teams initiated a cordon and search mission in the dense forest prompted by intelligence on terrorist activities. The situation intensified into a gunfight as the terrorists engaged the forces with gunfire. Among the deceased was Haris Nazir, a Category-C militant from Pulwama, linked to the Pakistan-based group Lashkar-e-Taiba.
Officials reported that the exchange of gunfire persisted throughout the night, with a particularly fierce battle occurring around 4 am on Saturday. The challenging terrain and nighttime conditions delayed the retrieval efforts, keeping the area tightly cordoned off. It is believed that 2–3 foreign terrorists may still be concealed in the region, and the operation is ongoing with continued searches and engagements.
This encounter is a segment of the larger counter-terrorism initiative named Operation Mahadev. Earlier this week, as part of this crackdown, security forces neutralized three Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists involved in the April 22 Pahalgam attack. Home Minister Amit Shah stated in Parliament that Suleiman, one of the neutralized militants, orchestrated that attack.
Recently, there has been an uptick in counter-terror operations across Jammu and Kashmir. Just days before the Kulgam incident, security forces thwarted an infiltration attempt in Poonch’s Kalsian-Gulpur area, eliminating two infiltrators attempting to breach the Line of Control.
In another incident, Indian Army Agniveer Lalit Kumar was killed on July 25 due to a landmine explosion while patrolling the Krishna Ghati sector in Poonch. Although the number of incidents in July is lower than the spring months, the frequency of encounters and militant casualties has increased since June.
The government has reiterated its dedication to eradicating terrorism in the region. Officials have assured that joint forces will persist in their operations to secure the area and protect civilians as Operation Akhal progresses in the Kulgam forests.
