The Kashmir Pulse

JAMMU — Four soldiers were injured after a gunfight erupted between militants and security forces in Chenab Valley of Kishtwar district where Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to address an election rally on Saturday.

According to the reports from the news agency KNO, four soldiers received bullet injuries and were evacuated to a medical facility after an encounter broke out at Chhatroo area of Kishtwar.

Notably, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to address an election rally in neighbouring Doda tomorrow.

“Based on the intelligence inputs, a joint operation with J&K Police was launched in Chatroo area at Kishtwar. A contact has been established with the terrorists at 3.30 pm. In the ensuing firefight, four army personnel were injured. The operation is in progress,” the Army's White Knight Corps said in a statement.

Moreover, Additional Director General of Police, Jammu, Anand Jain said, “Exchange of fire has taken place between search teams of security forces and hiding terrorists at Pingnal Dugadda forest area, upper reaches of Naidgham village under the jurisdiction of Chhatroo Police Station, Kishtwar district."

According to sources, the encounter began when the Jammu and Kashmir Police, along with the army, launched an anti-militancy operation based on specific intelligence inputs. Militants, who were hiding in the area, opened fire on the search party, prompting retaliation from security forces.

Reports suggest that at least four Jaish-e-Muhammad militants are trapped in Chatroo area of Kishtwar where the encounter is currently going on and search operations have been intensified to nearby areas of the encounter area. The Jammu and Kashmir Police, along with the army, surrounded the area to neutralise the militants.

KUPWARA — Three militants were killed in joint operations by J&K Police and Indian Army in northern Kashmir's Kupwara district on Thursday.

These successful operations, as per the security forces, are attributed to the seamless coordination between the two forces, focusing on maintaining close surveillance and enhancing human intelligence regarding infiltration attempts from the Line of Control (LOC) in Kupwara.

On August 27, specific intelligence inputs were received by the forces about simultaneous infiltration attempts in the Karnah and Kumkadi sectors of Kupwara. This information, as per the statement, was promptly shared with the respective army units, and joint ambushes involving J&K Police and the Army were strategically deployed.

The statement added that suspicious movement was detected around 19:30 hours on August 28 in the Kumkadi sector, leading to an exchange of fire that continued until the early morning hours of August 29. A subsequent search operation revealed two dead bodies of militants at the site.

Similarly, in the Karnah sector, suspicious movement was observed around 21:00 hours on August 28. The ensuing gunfire lasted into the early hours of August 29. The search operation conducted later resulted in the recovery of one dead body. Further search operations are ongoing in both sectors, and legal formalities are being completed. This marks the sixth counter-insurgency operation in Kupwara district this year, bringing the total number of militants killed in the district to 10, all of whom were foreign militants.

SRINAGAR — A soldier and an intruder were killed, while four other soldiers were injured in a Pakistani Border Action Team (BAT) attack in the Machil sector along the Line of Control (LoC) in Kupwara district on Saturday, official sources said.

According to sources who spoke to the news agency KNO, the Pakistani BAT attacked an Army post in the Kamkari sector along the LoC on Saturday morning. Five soldiers, including a captain, were injured in the attack, with one soldier later succumbing to his injuries.

An intruder, identified as a Pakistani national, was killed in the retaliatory action by Indian forces, they said, adding that a fighting knife called a dagger, a Chinese Type-56-1 assault rifle and other materials were recovered from the attacker.

This incident occurred a day after Kargil Vijay Diwas, during which Prime Minister Narendra Modi issued a stern warning to Pakistan, asserting that Indian forces would crush 'terrorism' and respond decisively to enemy actions.

The Srinagar-based Defence spokesperson confirmed the incident, saying that a group of two to three armed personnel exploited bad weather and poor visibility to cross the LoC and fire on a forward Army post.

"Alert troops responded vigorously, and in the ensuing exchange of fire, one Pakistani intruder was killed, with weapons, ammunition, and war-like stores recovered. The identification and affiliation of this Pakistani national are being ascertained," the spokesperson said.

He said two Indian soldiers were gravely injured during the exchange and were evacuated to the Base Hospital in Srinagar. Unfortunately, one of the soldiers, Rifleman Mohit Rathour, succumbed to his injuries, while the other is stable and responding well to treatment, he added.

The Defence spokesperson said that similar attempts by infiltrators, often aided by the Pakistani Army, have exploited thick foliage and poor visibility conditions but have consistently been thwarted by alert Indian troops. “The Indian Army remains firm in its resolve to maintain the sanctity of the LoC and defeat the inimical designs of the Pakistan Army,” he said.

This incident follows a series of recent infiltration attempts along the LoC in Kupwara, including an anti-militancy operation in Kowut (Trimukha Top) on July 24, where a militant and an Army soldier were killed.

On July 18, two infiltrators were killed in the Keran sector, with a large cache of arms and ammunition recovered. Similarly, on July 15, three infiltrators were killed while attempting to cross the LoC in the same sector.

The Indian Army extended condolences over the death of Rifleman Mohit Rathour, with General Upendra Dwivedi, Chief of Army Staff (COAS), and all ranks of the Indian Army saluting the “supreme sacrifice of the braveheart”.

“Indian Army offers deepest condolences and stands firm with the bereaved family in this hour of grief,” it posted on the social media site 'X'.

SRINAGAR — Two General Officers Commanding (GOCs) have been appointed to two army divisions in Kashmir.

According to the news agency KNO, the Indian Army's two divisions have new commanders, including Major General K. Mohan Nair, who took over as General Officer Commanding of the Vajr Division from Major General Girish Kalia, and Major General Vivek Narang, who took over the command of the Army's counter-insurgency division, Kilo Force, from Major General Mohit Seth.

"Major General K. Mohan Nair, YSM, SM, took over as General Officer Commanding of the strategic and prestigious Vajr Division from Major General Girish Kalia, AVSM, VSM. On assuming command, he paid homage to the Bravehearts and exhorted all ranks to continue soldiering with commitment and dedication," the Army's Chinar Corps said in a post on X.

It added, "Major General Vivek Narang, an alumnus of the NDA and an experienced officer steeped in counter-terrorism operations, took over as the General Officer Commanding of Kilo Force today, relieving Major General Mohit Seth. He exhorted all ranks to continue striving for excellence and to be combat-ready to thwart the nefarious designs of inimical forces."

KARGIL — Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Droupadi Murmu commemorated the 25th anniversary of India's victory in the Kargil War by paying tribute to the martyrs at the Drass War Memorial. Both leaders spoke of the significance of "Kargil Vijay Diwas", which marks the successful conclusion of 'Operation Vijay' and honours the bravery of the soldiers who sacrificed their lives.

Prime Minister Modi, while laying a floral wreath at the memorial, reaffirmed India's commitment to peace and the resolve to crush militancy in Jammu and Kashmir. He emphasized that the security forces will continue to thwart any attempts to destabilize the region. "Our forces will crush terrorism with full might and give a befitting reply to enemy designs," Modi stated, addressing the nation from Drass.

The Prime Minister also launched the first blast of the Shinkun La Tunnel, which will provide all-weather connectivity to Ladakh. He pointed out that despite Pakistan's continuous efforts to promote 'terrorism', India remains steadfast in its development goals for Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.

"Five years post Article 370 abrogation, Ladakh and J&K are prospering," he said, citing infrastructure projects, a rise in tourism, and the re-opening of cinemas in Kashmir as signs of progress.

President Murmu echoed similar sentiments, lauding the soldiers' bravery and urging citizens to draw inspiration from their courage. "Kargil Vijay Diwas is a day to honour the exceptional valour of India's armed forces," she stated.

Modi also criticized the opposition, particularly the Congress party, for ignoring the demands of the armed forces in the past and politicizing defence reforms like the Agnipath scheme. He asserted that the BJP government has prioritized military welfare, implementing one rank-one pension and boosting domestic defence production.

The Prime Minister concluded with a strong message to Pakistan, warning that their attempts to incite proxy wars would fail. "Pakistan has not learned from its past mistakes. Today, I want to tell the patrons of terrorism that their nefarious intentions will never succeed," he declared.

SRINAGAR — Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi on Thursday visited forward areas along the Line of Control (LoC) in Keran sector and interacted with commanders and troops.

In a post on X, the Indian Army, as per the news agency KNO, stated that the army chief lauded all ranks for maintaining high standards of professionalism. He exhorted them to remain steadfast in meeting emerging security challenges.

"General Upendra Dwivedi visited the forward locations and reviewed the security situation along the Line of Control. He also interacted with the Commanders and troops on the ground," the army said.

SRINAGAR — Twenty-five casualties have been reported in the ongoing month of July in eight gunfights and five militant attacks in Jammu and Kashmir.

Eleven soldiers and a civilian also sustained injuries in militancy-related incidents this month.

The data available with the news agency KNT reveals that this month, 12 militants including 6 infiltrators and 13 soldiers were killed in Jammu and Kashmir. 10 soldiers were killed in the Jammu region while 3 soldiers died in three encounters in Kashmir Valley.

Joint teams of security forces neutralized six infiltrators this month while six local militants were killed in twin encounters in Chinnibal and Modergam villages of southern Kashmir’s Kulgam district.

Out of eight gunfights, five raged in Kashmir Valley. Two encounters raged in Kulgam and three in the frontier district of Kupwara. Two encounters broke out in Doda and one in Poonch district of Jammu region.

Militants carried out five attacks in the Jammu region including Doda, Udhampur, Rajouri, and Kathua.

This month witnessed the maximum number of militancy-related incidents in Jammu and Kashmir.

SRINAGAR — A soldier and a militant were killed in a gunbattle that erupted on Tuesday evening in Kupwara district of north Kashmir, officials said.

The Indian Army’s Chinar Corps said troops launched a search operation in the Kowut area based on intelligence about the presence of militants.

An encounter ensued when troops challenged suspicious movement, resulting in the death of a militant and injuries to a soldier. The soldier later succumbed to his wounds.

The gunfight resumed in the morning on Wednesday after a brief pause and a militant was killed, police said. The identity of the slain militant was not immediately known.

The operation was still ongoing Wednesday afternoon when this report was filed.

JAMMU — A soldier was killed in the line of duty as the army thwarted an infiltration bid by militants along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu's Poonch district early Tuesday, the latest in a string of militant attacks in the region.

Lance Naik Subash Kumar was injured in the intense gunfight and later succumbed, said officials, adding militants too suffered "loss".

“All Ranks of White Knight Corps salute the supreme sacrifice of Braveheart L/Nk Subhash Chander who laid down his life in the line of duty. White Knight Corps offers deepest condolences and stands firm with the bereaved family in this hour of grief,” army in a post on X confirmed, as per the news agency KNO.

Officials said that a post-mortem has been conducted and the soldier's body handed over to the army. A search operation has been launched in the area, the officials said.

Earlier, the army in a post on X said, “Alert troops foiled an infiltration bid by effectively engaging infiltrating terrorists … in the Battal sector of Krishna Ghati at 0300 hours. During the exchange of heavy fire, one braveheart was injured, who later succumbed.”

There has been a spurt in militant activities in Jammu in recent months, raising fears about the revival of militancy in the region.

Yesterday, alert soldiers thwarted a major militant attack on a home of gallantry soldier’s in Budhal -Khawas area of Rajouri, an official said. "As per details, militants opened fire at one of temporary army posts, which was operational near the house of a VDG member Parshotam Kumar, a Village Defence Guard (VDG) member in Gundha - a remote village of Rajouri district at around 0310 hours and the fire was promptly retaliated by security personnel," official said.

He added, “The attack was given appropriate retaliation by alert security personnel.” Sources said that an army trooper was injured in a brief exchange of fire between militants and hospitalized, but there has been no official confirmation on the same.

This attack follows two high-level meetings chaired by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi in Jammu on Saturday, where they reviewed the security situation in response to the recent surge in militant attacks in the region.

According to sources, security forces initiated a cordon and search operation in a village in the Budhal area of Rajouri district after suspected militants opened fire at a security picket early in the morning.

This incident follows another attempted militant attack on a Territorial Army (TA) battalion post in Galuti Patrara village of Manjakote, Rajouri district, on July 7. An Army sentry deployed at the post sustained injuries during the initial exchange of gunfire, which lasted for half an hour on Sunday morning.

POONCH — Indian army troops foiled an infiltration attempt by suspected militants in the Battal sector of Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch district early Tuesday, officials said.

A soldier was injured during the exchange of fire, the army said in a statement posted on social media.

Taking on to the micro-blogging platform X, the army spokesperson wrote, "Alert troops foiled an infiltration bid by effectively engaging infiltrating terrorists with effective fire in the Battal Sector at 0300h. During the exchange of heavy fire, one braveheart has been injured."

The operation, according to the statement, is going on.

It is in place to mention here that repeated militant attacks in the Jammu region have created a challenging situation for both the LG-led UT administration as well as the Union government.

RAJOURI — In a nocturnal attack by militants on a post, an army soldier suffered injuries in the Rajouri district of Jammu region.

Official sources said that militants attacked a post (Naka) set up near the house of a Shaurya Chakra awardee Parshotam Kumar at the Gunda Khawas village in Rajouri at around 3 am on Monday.

One soldier sustained bullet injuries in the attack while a cow also died, they said, adding that this Naka had been set up after receiving inputs about the movement of militants.

Pertinently, Purshotam Kumar was recently awarded Shaurya Chakra by the President for helping to kill a militant in the Kalakote area.

Official sources added that shortly after the attack, a massive search operation was launched which was under progress till the filing of this report.

DODA — After the death of five soldiers in Kathua, four more soldiers including an officer have been killed in Deesa forest area of Doda district of Jammu and Kashmir.

An army official had earlier said that during the initial exchange of fire, some soldiers suffered injuries.

Reports said that four Indian Army soldiers, including a Captain rank officer, who were critically injured in a gunfight with militants on Monday night in Deesa forest area of Doda died in the hospital.

Army said that during a search operation, suspicious movement was observed in Dhari Gote Urarbagi in the Desa forest area.

During the initial exchange of fire, four soldiers sustained injuries and succumbed late Monday night in the hospital.

Reports said that a policeman also suffered injuries during the encounter. The operation is in progress.

On July 8 this month, five soldiers including a JCO were killed and an equal number of soldiers were injured in a militant attack in the Badnota area of Kathua district of Jammu region.

JAMMU — Four army personnel were killed and six injured on Monday when militants ambushed their vehicle in the remote Machhedi area of Jammu and Kashmir's Kathua district, officials said.

The militants hurled a grenade and opened fire targeting Army vehicles which were on a routine patrol on the Machhedi-Kindli-Malhar road at around 3:30 pm near Badnota village in Lohai Malhar, 150 km from Kathua town.

Security forces retaliated but the militants fled into the nearby forest, the officials said, adding an intermittent exchange of firing was going on between the militants and security forces when the last reports were received.

SRINAGAR — A Junior Commissioned Officer was among five soldiers killed when a tank met with an accident, close to LAC near Mandir Morh, in Leh district of Kargil.

Official sources quoted by the news agency GNS said that the incident took place around 3 am and the bodies of all soldiers have been recovered. Further investigation into this incident has been initiated.

SRINAGAR — Three persons were detained as security forces busted a 'narco-terror' module in northern Kashmir's Kupwara district on Saturday.

An official quoted by the news agency Kashmir Scroll said that after receiving input that a person was trying to find purchasers for heroin, a trap was laid by Jammu and Kashmir Police and the Indian Army in Karnah.

He said that two persons were later apprehended with approximately 500 grams of heroin. They have been identified as Shafeeq Ahmad Sheikh son of Late Mohammad Shafi Sheikh, a resident of Khawarparab Karnah and Tariq Ahmad Malik son of Ghulam Ahmad Malik, a resident of Baghballa.

"Further investigation revealed the presence of three pistols with a person identified as Parvez Ahmed Pathan, a resident of Sadhpura," he said.

Immediately, Parvez was apprehended in a joint raid by the Jammu and Kashmir Police and the Indian Army. "Three pistols, 76 pistol rounds, six pistol magazines and approximately, five kilograms of suspected explosives were recovered from his possession," the official said.

In this regard, the official added, an FIR was registered and further interrogations and investigations are going on.

DODA — Fear has gripped Jammu's Doda district after two back-to-back gunfights within a span of just 24 hours in Bhaderwah and Gandoh areas were reported, which left seven people including five soldiers and two policemen injured.

The back-to-back incidents have forced the School Education Department to verbally communicate to the heads of educational institutions not to conduct any outings or allow students to leave the schools during working hours.

Even some tourists are leaving Bhaderwah, the emerging tourist destination where thousands of tourists have visited in the past few months.

Sources told the news agency KNO that following last night's firefight in Chattergala, the Chief Education Officer Doda on Wednesday morning issued verbal orders to Principals and Heads of Educational Institutions to follow the orders in letter and spirit.

“Some exposure visits which were planned for the next few days had to be cancelled by the department and schools have been told not to conduct any kind of picnic till further orders,” the source said.

On Tuesday night, some militants opened fire on security forces in Chattergala on Bhaderwah-Bani road in which five soldiers and a Special Police Officer (SPO) were injured.

All the traffic movement along the route was suspended and people were advised not to carry out any kind of visit to the upper reaches of Bhaderwah due to security reasons.

“I received a call from my family in the morning from Aligarh when they heard about the firefight in Bhaderwah area. They were quite frightened and advised not to venture out. It is for the first time since they heard about any kind of encounter in Doda district since I have been posted here,” a teacher of Kendriya Vidyalaya school said.

SRINAGAR — Two militants were seen at the Reasi militant attack scene by eyewitnesses on Sunday while a search operation is underway in the area.

As per the local news agency Kashmir Scroll, SSP Reasi Mohita Sharma said that the militants fired upon the bus yesterday. Nine people reportedly died and 33 were injured and are being treated in different hospitals.

As per eyewitnesses, two (militants) were there who carried out the attack while a combing operation was underway in the area and five teams have been formed to search the area, officials said.

They said that the eyewitness disclosed, “Terrorists fired on the bus and shot the driver first, while firing lasted for approximately 20 minutes." They saw a militant in front of the bus.

Officials said that a cordon and search operation by the Army with Police is going on while NIA is likely to take over the investigation of the Reasi attack.