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The Wire
3 days ago
- The Wire
Soldier Killed in Baramulla Gunfight; Fourth Army Casualty in a Week
Two soldiers were killed by militants while two more suffered injuries in the intervening night of August 8 and 9 in south Kashmir's Kulgam district. Representative image of Army personnel along the Line of Control (LoC) in Baramulla. Photo: PTI. Srinagar: An army soldier was killed today August 13 in a fierce gunfight with a group of militants who tried to enter along the Line of Control (LoC) in north Kashmir's Baramulla district. This is the fourth casualty suffered by the army in Jammu and Kashmir in less than a week amid a sharp uptick in insurgency-related violence with militants managing to give a slip to security forces in two major encounters in Kulgam and Kishtwar districts. An official said that the soldier, whose identity was not immediately known, was killed in Churunda village of Uri sector in the north Kashmir district during an intense exchange of gunfire with a group of militants who tried to enter from across the LoC. Some reports said that the firing was part of action by the Pakistan's Border Action Team and the soldier was killed when the Indian army launched a counter-infiltration attempt. However, The Wire couldn't immediately verify the reports. The official said that the army succeeded in pushing back the militants and a combing operation has been launched in the area. Earlier, two soldiers were killed by militants while two more suffered injuries in the intervening night of August 8 and 9 in south Kashmir's Kulgam district where security forces battled a group of heavily armed militants for 12 days in one of the longest anti-insurgency operations in the valley. The slain soldiers were identified as Pritpal Singh and Harminder Singh. The latter's family has claimed in a video that the two were encircled by militants who deprived them of food and water for five days and forced them to eat dirt before killing them. A local militant from Pulwama district was also killed in the Kulgam encounter which broke out in a forested area of Akhal on August 1. There were reports of another militant being killed in the encounter. However, these reports have not been officially confirmed so far. The anti-insurgency operation in Kulgam by the army's elite para commandoes, J&K police special operations group and central paramilitary forces was expanded to cover the woods of the adjoining Anantnag and Shopian districts before it was called off on Wednesday. A local news gatherer quoting an official said that the operation was called off on Wednesday morning as 'no further movement' of militants was detected' in the area where 'continuous search and combing' operation has been underway for nearly two weeks. In the adjoining Kishtwar district of Jammu's Chenab valley, a joint team of the army, police and paramilitary forces exchanged fire with a group of militants on Sunday in a forested area of Dul. In a post on X, the army's Jammu-based White Knight Corps wrote: "Contact with #Terrorists. Alert Indian Army troops while carrying out an intelligence based operation have established contact with terrorists in the general area of Dul in Kishtwar in the early hours of 10 Aug 2025'. However, there has been no update about the encounter and no fresh firing was reported from the area. According to reports, two personal security guards of a top militant from the Chenab valley were involved in the firing. On Monday, a 31-year army soldier from Telangana died in a fall from a mountain during a routine patrol near the Line of Control in Baramulla district, the army said. Sepoy B Anil of Maratha Light Infantry, who was deployed at a a border post in Uri sector, slipped during a routine patrol and died on the spot on Monday following which his body was taken to Uri sub district hospital for medico-legal formalities. The army's Srinagar-based Chinar Corps said on X: "Chinar Corps deeply regrets the loss of precious life of Braveheart Sepoy Banoth Anil Kumar, while performing operational duty along the Line of Control in Baramulla district. Chinar Warriors salute his immense valour and sacrifice, express deepest condolence and stand in solidarity with the bereaved family'. The Wire is now on WhatsApp. Follow our channel for sharp analysis and opinions on the latest developments.
NDTV
5 days ago
- NDTV
Jammu and Kashmir Operation Enters Day 11, No Terrorist Found, No Firing Reported: Sources
Srinagar: The 11-day-long anti-terrorist operation in Jammu and Kashmir's Kulgam district has come to nought. No terrorist was found after a heavy exchange of firing and also killing of two army soldiers on Saturday, sources said. It was one of the longest anti-terrorist operations in the recent past in Jammu and Kashmir that witnessed heavy gunfights and explosions. At least five Pakistani terrorists were believed to be hiding. But on Saturday, after two Army soldiers, Pritpal Singh and Harminder Singh, were killed in action, it appears terrorists have managed to break the cordon, the sources said. Since then, there have been no reports of firing, even as a search operation was carried out for two days. Hundreds of troops from the Army, paratroopers, CRPF and Jammu and Kashmir were involved in the operation. Ten soldiers were also injured during the protracted encounter. "Searches over the last two days have not yielded any results. There was no firing either," said a senior official. Since 2021, Pakistan has been pushing terrorists into Jammu and Kashmir who are well-trained in jungle warfare. Instead of operating in urban and populated areas, the battle-hardened terrorists engage security forces in treacherous mountains and forests. As a result, troops often suffer casualties in protracted operations. Also, flushing out terrorists from jungles requires a large-scale troop deployment for cordon and searches in challenging terrain and dense forests. The operation in Akhal was launched on August 1 after security forces received information about the presence of a large group of terrorists. In the initial shootout on the foothills forest, one local terrorist was killed. But as the encounter spread to the forest area, things became difficult for the forces as well-entrenched Pakistani terrorists targeted security forces at multiple places during the operation. Besides heavy firing and occasional explosions, drones were also seen dropping explosives on target areas in the thick alpine forests of Akhal.
Hindustan Times
09-08-2025
- Hindustan Times
Two soldiers killed as Op Akhal in Kashmir's Kulgam enters Day 9
Two soldiers were killed in heavy overnight firing between security forces and terrorists in the ongoing Operation Akhal in south Kashmir's Kulgam district as the encounter entered its ninth day on Saturday, one of the longest anti-terror operations in the Valley, officials said. Police personnel keeping a vigil amid an ongoing encounter between security forces and terrorists in the Akhal forest in Kulgam district of Jammu and Kashmir. (PTI Photo) 'Chinar Corps honours the supreme sacrifice of the bravehearts, Lance Naik Pritpal Singh and sepoy Harminder Singh, in the line of duty for the nation. Their courage and dedication will forever inspire us. The Indian Army expresses deepest condolences and stands in solidarity with the bereaved families. The operation continues,' the army's Chinar Corps posted on X. While two terrorists have been killed since the operation began on August 1, the army has acknowledged the killing of one terrorist and hasn't revealed his identity. The encounter in which scores of security force personnel, including para commandos, are deployed has been underway for the past nine days with the army, police and the CRPF expanding the joint operation to the deep forest. The officials said that fresh reinforcements have been despatched as security personnel are cautiously closing in on the terrorist hideout in the Akhal forest. On August 7, Jammu and Kashmir director general of police (DGP) Nalin Prabhat had visited the spot and was briefed about the operation. The army and police are using quadcopters, drones and other surveillance equipment to trace the terrorists in the forest. The security forces had launched the operation in the Akhal forest after inputs about the presence of a group of terrorists. The officials said the constant exchange of firing is an indication that militants are still in the cordon area. 'Due to dense forest cover, the soldiers are moving cautiously and conducting search and cordon operations,' a senior police officer said, adding: 'On Friday night, there was heavy exchange of fire in the forest.' The operation is turning out to be one of the longest against terrorists in Kashmir in the recent past. Akhal, a picturesque village surrounded by dense forest, has a population of about 2,000 people and is located 13km from Kulgam town.
Indian Express
18-07-2025
- Indian Express
Mohali: More than 1.35 quintal poppy husk recovered, one arrested
In a significant breakthrough under the ongoing state-level anti-drug campaign, police in Mohali have claimed a major success by recovering 1 quintal 35 kilograms 480 grams of poppy husk and arresting one accused. The contraband was recovered from a fodder room inside the accused's residence. Efforts are underway to arrest two other accomplices. Addressing a press conference at the District Police Headquarters, Saurav Jindal, PPS, SP (Investigation), revealed that acting on a tip-off, a police team led by SI Harminder Singh conducted a raid on July 17, near village Kurari, close to Sekhan Majra Road. He said the prime accused, Jarnail Singh alias Jaila, a resident of Sekhan Majra, was arrested from the spot. During the raid, police recovered a large quantity of poppy husk hidden in a specially prepared room used for storing fodder. The two other accused Iqbal Singh, alias Jaggu, a resident of Banur, and Paramjit Singh, alias Pamma, are currently on the run, and raids are being conducted to apprehend them. According to the SP, the trio used to procure large quantities of poppy husk from other states and illegally supply it in the IT City and Banur areas. Based on the evidence, an has been registered under sections 15/29-61-85 of the NDPS Act at IT City Police Station on July 17. 'The investigation is ongoing and more major revelations are expected once the remaining accused are arrested,' Jindal stated.
Time of India
08-07-2025
- Time of India
Former sarpanch booked for embezzlement of funds
Ludhiana: Doraha Police, on Monday, registered a case against former sarpanch of Bhathal village, Paramjeet Kaur, for alleged embezzlement of panchayat funds during her tenure from 2019 to 2024. The case was based on a formal complaint by the district development and panchayat officer (DDPO), who also recommended departmental action against village development officer, Harminder Singh. The FIR was registered after an inquiry marked on a complaint filed by Mandeep Singh Bhathal, social media in-charge of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), who alleged misappropriation of nearly Rs 79 lakh in development grants received by the village during the term of the former sarpanch. Bhathal claimed that nearly 700 fully grown trees were illegally felled on panchayat land without approval. He added that Rs 8 lakh was withdrawn for undocumented expenses and that although records showed installation of 30 solar street lights in the village, not one could be found on the ground. Irregularities were also flagged in the reported development of the village cremation ground, playground, sewerage system, fish farm, and Anganwadi centre. The DDPO report confirmed that both Paramjeet Kaur and village development officer Harminder Singh were twice asked to submit clarifications in August and September last year but failed to respond. Following the probe, the DDPO not only initiated criminal proceedings but also wrote to the department concerned to recover the misappropriated funds. Assistant sub-inspector Kulwinder Singh, the investigation officer, said an FIR was filed under Section 316(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), and efforts are underway to arrest the accused. MSID:: 122323745 413 |
