Army Neutralises Six Terrorists in Back-to-Back Operations in J&K

In a major counter-terror success, the Indian Army eliminated six terrorists in two separate encounters within 48 hours across Jammu and Kashmir, senior officials confirmed on Thursday. The twin operations were carried out in distinct terrains—forested highlands and flat village areas—underscoring the army’s operational versatility.

Major General Dhananjay Joshi, GOC of the Army’s Victor Force, revealed that the first operation began on May 12 in the higher reaches of Kelar, following intelligence inputs about terrorist movement. Security forces, after spotting activity the next morning, confronted the group, leading to a brief firefight in which three terrorists were gunned down.

The second encounter took place in a border village in Tral, where terrorists had taken cover in residential houses. “Our immediate priority was evacuating civilians to safety,” Major General Joshi said. Once the villagers were secured, the army and other security personnel engaged the terrorists, killing three more. Among them was Shahid Kutte, a wanted militant involved in two major attacks—including one on a German tourist—and known for financing terror activities.

Parallelly, in Pulwama, security forces acted on specific intelligence about three Jaish-e-Mohammad terrorists hiding in a village. After successfully evacuating civilians, a coordinated assault led to the killing of all three militants, identified as Asif Ahmed Sheikh, Amir Nazir Wani, and Yawar Ahmed Bhat.

These operations, involving the Indian Army, Jammu and Kashmir Police, and CRPF, come amid the ongoing Operation Sindoor—a new counter-terror initiative reflecting a strategic shift in India’s security doctrine. “No matter where terrorists hide, we will find and neutralise them,” declared Major General Joshi, emphasizing the army’s resolve.

The swift and decisive actions highlight the evolving approach to counter-insurgency in Jammu and Kashmir and mark a significant blow to terrorist networks operating in the region.