By Hanika Kashyap
A battle between security forces and terrorists took place on Monday in the Kulgam quarter of South Kashmir. The lives of two army personnel, Subedar Perbhat Gaur and Lance Naik Narender Sindhu, were claimed.
The operation began when the Army, CRPF, and Jammu and Kashmir police launched a common charge based on intelligence indicating that terrorists were hiding in the Guddar timbers. The conflict continued on Tuesday, where fresh security forces were transferred, raising the total number of labor force involved to 19.
An official confirmed that after a brief period of calm overnight, the anti-terror operation proceeded.
According to The Times of India, the terrorists opened fire at army officials, killing one of their own during the gun battle. The ongoing exchange of fire also took the life of the alternate terrorist. PTI reports that one of the terrorists was a local, while the other was believed to be from Pakistan, with his code name reported as “Rehman Bhai.”
In addition to the deaths of Gaur and Sindhu, a Major sustained serious injuries during the gunfight. He was evacuated from the area for medical treatment and is presently in stable condition.
This year has seen the loss of 19 security forces in operations in Jammu and Kashmir. Six and 13 losses were recorded in Kashmir and the Jammu division, respectively. In August, Havildar Ankit Kumar was killed near the Line of Control in the Uri sector of Baramulla quarter in north Kashmir. He died while defending the area from armed intruders.
The Uri clash marked the end of an 11-day operation in the Kulgam quarter. Lance Naik Pritpal Singh and Sepoy Harminder Singh died during this.
Another extended gunfight was in August, lasting from the 1st to the 13th in the Akhal Khulsan timbers, led to the death of two soldiers. The fight ended after 48 hours when contact was lost.
Reports indicate that at least 18 terrorists have been killed in Kashmir since the Pahalgam attack, including the three terrorists associated with Lashkar-e-Taiba.