SRINAGAR, Dec 19: Five terrorists were killed and two Army soldiers were injured on Thursday in a fierce gunfight between joint security forces and militants in Kulgam district, Jammu and Kashmir. The encounter took place in the Kadder village of Behibagh area, marking the largest number of terrorists killed in a single operation in the region this year.

According to officials, the joint forces, including the 34 Rashtriya Rifles, police, and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), initiated a Cordon and Search Operation (CASO) in the village after receiving intelligence about terrorists hiding in the area. As the forces closed in on the militants’ hideout, the terrorists opened fire, sparking a fierce encounter. In the ensuing gunfight, five terrorists were killed, while two Army soldiers sustained injuries. The injured soldiers have been evacuated to a hospital for treatment.

The identity of the slain terrorists is still being determined. Security forces have continued their search operation in the area. This successful operation is being hailed as a major achievement in the efforts of the security forces to dismantle the terror ecosystem in Jammu and Kashmir.

The joint forces’ crackdown on terrorism is part of a broader, aggressive campaign against terrorists, their Over Ground Workers (OGWs), and sympathizers. In addition to these operations, the authorities have been taking action against drug smugglers and peddlers in the Kashmir Valley, attaching properties worth several crores following legal orders.

Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha has been leading high-level security meetings, giving clear instructions to security forces to intensify efforts against the terror ecosystem in the region. Meanwhile, Union Home Minister Amit Shah is chairing a crucial security review meeting in Delhi today, with the participation of the heads of intelligence agencies, police, and other security forces involved in anti-terrorism operations in Jammu and Kashmir.