Encounter breaks out in J&K's Kulgam; operation underway

SRINAGAR: An encounter broke out between security forces and terrorists in Akhal forest area of Devsar in south Kashmir’s Kulgam district on Friday evening.

A joint team of personnel from the Army, CRPF, and J&K Police SOG had launched an anti-terror operation following inputs about the presence of terrorists in the area. Holed-up ultras opened fire at the search party, triggering a gunfight, a police spokesperson said.

The operation continued till the time of filing this report.

Earlier in the day, J&K DGP Nalin Prabhat and IGP (Kashmir Range) VK Birdi had visited Kulgam to assess the security situation. DGP Prabhat held a high-level operational review meeting with GOC Victor Force and senior officers of the Army and police, directing them to “analyse and reassess existing strategies and recalibrate the counter-terrorism offensive” to eliminate Pakistani terrorists.

The DGP also toured the DH Pora, Devsar and Kund areas during his visit.