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The Wire
21 hours 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
2 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
4 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Slain soldier from Samrala was newlywed, family inconsolable
Lance naik Pritpal Singh, who along with another soldier lost his life in an overnight gunfight with terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir's Kulgam district, was eagerly awaited by family in Manupur village near Samrala as this Diwali would have marked his first home visit after his marriage just four months ago, his kin said. But the 27-year-old is set to return wrapped in the Tricolour, his uncle Subedar Major Harbans Singh said. Lance Naik Pritpal Singh He said the heartbreaking news came through a call from the army. Pritpal was part of a special operation to track down terrorists when an encounter took place. During the mission, he and his team neutralised one terrorist, but others retaliated with a hand grenade and heavy gunfire. Bullets struck Pritpal in the head, killing him instantly. The news has cast a pall of grief over the village. People have been gathering at his home since morning, while his mother's cries and the heartbroken wails of his wife Manpreet Kaur echo through the lanes. His father and two elder brothers remain inconsolable as neighbours struggle to comfort them. Former Subedar Major Darshan Singh recalled the day of Pritpal's wedding when the soldier walked through the village streets like a king, adorned in wedding finery. 'We were all waiting for his first leave. No one imagined he would come back like this,' he said. Pritpal, known for his soft-spoken nature, had completed commando training and was on the verge of promotion from Lance Naik to Naik, his kin stated. MLA Jagtar Singh Dyalpura expressed pride in Pritpal's sacrifice, assuring that the Punjab government would stand shoulder to shoulder with his family. He confirmed that the martyr would be given a final farewell with full state honours. Harpreet Singh, Pritpal's elder brother, broke down while talking. 'Our brother is gone, but the terrorist who shot him is still alive. The government must take revenge. My brother was supposed to light his first Diwali lamp at home this year — now that will never happen.' The other soldier, sepoy Harminder Singh, who too lost his life in the encounter, hailed from Mandi Gobindgarh's Badinpur village
Time of India
4 days ago
- Time of India
Kulgam encounter: 2 soldiers killed, operation enters ninth day in Kashmir
Two soldiers were killed and two others injured in the ongoing encounter in Kulgam district of southern Kashmir. The encounter, which entered its ninth day on Saturday, is one of the longest operations in Kashmir in recent times. The Srinagar-based Chinar Corps of the Indian Army said in a social media post that the operation continued. Earlier, the forces said that one militant had been killed in the encounter and the body of another militant was lying in the forest area of Akhal in Kulgam but had not been retrieved yet. "Chinar Corps honours the supreme sacrifice of the Bravehearts, L/Nk Pritpal Singh and Sep Harminder Singh, in line of duty for the Nation. Their courage and dedication will forever inspire us. Army stands in solidarity with the bereaved families. The operation continues," the army said. Productivity Tool Zero to Hero in Microsoft Excel: Complete Excel guide By Metla Sudha Sekhar View Program Finance Introduction to Technical Analysis & Candlestick Theory By Dinesh Nagpal View Program Finance Financial Literacy i e Lets Crack the Billionaire Code By CA Rahul Gupta View Program Digital Marketing Digital Marketing Masterclass by Neil Patel By Neil Patel View Program Finance Technical Analysis Demystified- A Complete Guide to Trading By Kunal Patel View Program Productivity Tool Excel Essentials to Expert: Your Complete Guide By Study at home View Program Artificial Intelligence AI For Business Professionals Batch 2 By Ansh Mehra View Program Two other army personnel were injured during the firing in the wee hours of Saturday, officials said, taking the tally of the injured soldiers to nine. The operation started on August 1 evening in the Akhal area of Kulgam following specific inputs regarding the presence of militants in the forces have sealed all entry and exit points in Akhal village as well as nearby forested mountain area.
Indian Express
5 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
2 soldiers killed as operation to find terrorists in Kashmir's Akhal forest enters Day 9
Two soldiers were killed and two injured in an overnight gunfight in south Kashmir's Kulgam. The encounter, which started nine days ago at Akhal, is among the longest military operations against terrorists in the Valley in recent years. The Army confirmed the killing of two soldiers during the intense gunfight on the night of Friday-Saturday. 'Chinar Corps honours the supreme sacrifice of the Bravehearts, L/Nk Pritpal Singh and Sep Harminder Singh, in line of duty for the Nation,' the Army's Valley-based Chinar Corps posted on X. 'Their courage and dedication will forever inspire us. Indian Army expresses deepest condolences and stand in solidarity with the bereaved families.' Police sources said that as the forces moved on in the dense forest during the night, they came under fire from terrorists, resulting in injuries to four soldiers, two of whom succumbed. Update: OP AKHAL, Kulgam Chinar Corps honours the supreme sacrifice of the Bravehearts, L/Nk Pritpal Singh and Sep Harminder Singh, in line of duty for the Nation. Their courage and dedication will forever inspire us. #IndianArmy expresses deepest condolences and stand in… — Chinar Corps🍁 – Indian Army (@ChinarcorpsIA) August 9, 2025 Six soldiers have been injured in the course of this gunfight. One militant was also killed on the first day of the encounter. Sources said that since the forest is dense and the terrain tough, the soldiers are moving slowly and cautiously, which has prolonged the operation. Sources said they have inputs about the presence of four-five terrorists in the area. After an initial exchange of fire on the first day, reinforcements were sent and the Army pressed drones, unmanned armed vehicles (UAVs) and helicopters into service. Sources said that the Akhal forests are dense and connected to many south Kashmir areas, and the forces have moved in from different directions to corner the terrorists and prevent them from escaping. Bashaarat Masood is a Special Correspondent with The Indian Express. He has been covering Jammu and Kashmir, especially the conflict-ridden Kashmir valley, for two decades. Bashaarat joined The Indian Express after completing his Masters in Mass Communication and Journalism from the University in Kashmir. He has been writing on politics, conflict and development. Bashaarat was awarded with the Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Awards in 2012 for his stories on the Pathribal fake encounter. ... Read More
