Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) security forces successfully concluded a two-day operation in Kupwara district’s Lolab area, leading to the death of one terrorist and the recovery of a cache of weapons, officials confirmed on Thursday.
The operation, which commenced on Tuesday, saw intense clashes with militants. On Wednesday, the forces eliminated one terrorist and seized a significant amount of arms and ammunition, including an AK rifle, two hand grenades, four AK magazines, and other war-like stores. Authorities indicated that the operation was part of an ongoing effort to tackle militancy in the region.
This development follows a similar incident earlier in the week when a terrorist was killed in the Ketsun forests of Bandipora district. The operation in Bandipora, however, remains ongoing as security forces continue their efforts to eliminate militant presence in the area.
Security agencies believe that recent militant activities in J&K are linked to external handlers from across the border in Pakistan. Intelligence sources suggest that these terror groups are retaliating against the peaceful elections in the region, which saw strong participation from the local population, further frustrating militant elements.
The violence in the region has escalated since the installation of an elected government, with several deadly attacks targeting both civilians and security personnel. Notably, on November 2, a top commander of the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), Usman Bhai alias Chota Waleed, was killed in a gunfight in the old Srinagar city. The clash, which lasted for a day, also resulted in injuries to two local policemen and two CRPF personnel.
In a separate incident last month, militants killed six workers associated with an infrastructure project in Gagangir, Ganderbal district, where work was being done on a tunnel to improve the Srinagar-Sonamarg road, an essential economic route. Terrorists later killed three Army soldiers and two porters in the Gulmarg area of Baramulla district.
In a stark warning to the militants and their collaborators, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha directed security forces to target not just the terrorists but also their supporters and sympathizers. Sinha also made it clear that any property found sheltering terrorists would face destruction, emphasizing a tougher stance against terrorism in the region.
Despite these challenges, security forces remain committed to restoring peace and protecting the integrity of the region, which has seen significant sacrifices made by the armed forces in their fight against militancy. The persistence of terrorist attacks in areas previously thought to be safe, such as Gagangir and Gulmarg, has raised alarms among security officials, as these attacks threaten to undo the fragile peace that has been painstakingly built in the region.
The situation in J&K remains tense, but with the strong resolve of the government and security forces, efforts to neutralize terror elements continue unabated.
Sources By Agencies