Para Commando martyred in Kishtwar encounter

Kishtwar encounter: Terrorists involved in VDC killings engaged in gunfight

One of the brave hearts of the Indian Army was martyred in the ongoing counter-terrorist operation in the higher reaches of Kishtwar on Sunday.

Three other soldiers were rushed to the military hospital after they too received critical injuries in the heavy exchange of fire in the Bhart Ridge area of Kishtwar.

Unconfirmed reports claimed the terrorists also targeted the army helicopter while they were shifting injured soldiers. No loss was reported in the firing as the pilot managed to safely evacuate the injured soldiers dodging the terrorists targeting them.

The operation was launched by the joint team of security forces to neutralize a group of 3-4 terrorists responsible for the killing of two members of the Village Defence Guards on Thursday.

The martyred soldier has been identified as Naib Subedar Rakesh Kumar of 2 Para.

According to a Jammu-based Defence spokesman, “Based on specific intelligence input regarding the presence of terrorists, a joint operation was launched by security forces in general area Bhart Ridge, Kishtwar. This is the same group that had abducted and killed 02 (two) innocent villagers (Village Defence Guards). Contact was established and a firefight ensued.”

#GOC #WhiteknightCorps and all ranks salute the supreme sacrifice of #Braveheart, Nb Sub Rakesh Kumar of 2 Para (SF). Sub Rakesh was part of a joint #CT operation launched in general area of # Bhart Ridge #Kishtwar on 09 Nov 2024.

We stand with bereaved family in this hour of… pic.twitter.com/x9Zw0EnLRX

— White Knight Corps (@Whiteknight_IA) November 10, 2024

The area where the firefight took place was located a few kilometres from the spot where the bullet-riddled bodies of VDGs Nazir Ahmad and Kuldeep Kumar were found on Friday.

At least three to four groups of terrorists are active in the area and taking shelter in the natural caves and temporary structures in the higher reaches of Kishtwar.

In Kashmir valley, another encounter took place in the highly fortified area of Zabarwan forests on the outskirts of Srinagar city. This is the third incident of terrorist violence since November 1 in Srinagar. A LeT Commander was gunned down in the Khanyar area of Srinagar on November 2 and then a grenade attack took place last Sunday near the Tourist reception centre in which twelve citizens received injuries.

According to police, the gunbattle broke out around 9 am in the forest area connecting Dachigam and the upper reaches of the Nishat area. After heavy exchange of firing during the day the guns suddenly fall silent in the afternoon.

Official sources on ground zero claimed the group of terrorists may have managed to flee the area taking advantage of the thick foliage. In half a dozen successful operations the security forces have so far eliminated eight terrorists in different parts of Kashmir valley since the beginning of this month.

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