3 terrorists killed in separate encounters in Jammu and Kashmir, security ops on

Three encounters are underway in Jammu and Kashmir's Kulgam and Rajouri districts respectively, after security forces spotted terrorist movements in the area.

In Short

• The gunfights started in Kupwara and Rajouri districts
• Three terrorists have been gunned down by security forces
• The terrorists were spotted by the alert troops after which the gunfights started

At least three terrorists were killed in two separate encounters in two separate anti-infiltration operations along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir's Kupwara district.

According to the Indian Army's Chinar Corps, two terrorists were killed by the security forces in an encounter in Kupwara's Machil sector, while another terrorist was gunned down in Kupwara's Tangdhar sector.

On the intervening night of August 28-29, a massive operation was launched by the security forces after terrorists were sighted in the Tangdhar sector. Later, another operation was launched in the Machil sector when the alert troops of 57 Rashtriya Rifles (RR) spotted two to three terrorists in the area.

A third encounter started between the security forces and terrorists in the Lathi village of Rajouri district, where three to four terrorists were suspected to be hiding.

"Based on intelligence inputs regarding likely infiltration bids, a Joint anti-infiltration Operation was launched by IndianArmy & Jammu and Kashmir Police on the intervening night of 28-29 Aug 24 in general area Tangdhar, Kupwara. One terrorist is likely to have been neutralised," the Indian Army's Chinar Corps said in a post on X.

"Based on intelligence inputs with respect to likely infiltration bids, a Joint Operation was launched by Indian Army & Jammu and Kashmir Police on the intervening night of 28-29 Aug 24 in general area Machhal, Kupwara. Suspicious movement was observed in bad weather and was engaged with effective firing by own troops; two terrorists are likely to have been neutralised. The operation is in progress," it added.

Speaking about the Rajouri encounter, an official of Jammu and Kashmir said, "A search operation was launched by security forces in the general area of village Kheri Mohra Lathi and Danthal in Rajouri district at 9.30 pm on Wednesday night (following suspected terrorist movement)."

During the search operation, at around 11.45 pm, contact was established with terrorists, leading to an exchange of fire between the militants and security forces near Kheri Mohra area, the spokesperson added.

Security forces also fired a few shots of tracer rounds to illuminate the area, the official said.

Two to three terrorists are holed up in the cordon area, the official said, adding that additional forces have been rushed to the area to strengthen the cordon and the operation.

The encounter between the security forces and terrorists came ahead of the Assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir, which will be held in three phases on September 18, September 25 and October 1. Results are expected to be declared on October 4.