The anti-terrorist operation in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kulgam district entered its fourth day on Monday, with security forces locked in a prolonged gunfight against a group of terrorists in the dense forests of the Akhal Devsar area. The operation, codenamed ‘Operation Akhal,’ began Friday evening after the Indian Army, Jammu and Kashmir Police, CRPF, and Special Operations Group launched a joint cordon-and-search mission based on intelligence about five terrorists hiding in the region.

One local terrorist was confirmed killed in the initial exchange, with his body recovered, while another was reported dead but not yet retrieved due to the intense firefight and challenging terrain. “It’s a difficult terrain and a dense forest area,” said VK Birdi, IGP Kashmir, noting that intermittent firing continues from two directions. Three security personnel have been injured.

Security forces suspect two to three of the remaining terrorists are foreign, well-trained in jungle warfare, unlike the region’s dwindling number of less-experienced local militants. Drones, helicopters, and thermal imaging are being deployed to track the terrorists, with reinforcements tightening the cordon to prevent escapes.

Also Read: 21 Terrorists Eliminated in J&K After Pahalgam Massacre

This marks the third major encounter in Jammu and Kashmir within a week. Last week, security forces neutralized three Pakistani terrorists linked to the April 22 Pahalgam attack, which killed 26 civilians, during ‘Operation Mahadev’ in Srinagar. On Thursday, two infiltrators were killed in Poonch near the Line of Control. The ongoing Kulgam operation underscores the intensified efforts to dismantle terrorist networks in the region.

Also Read: Operation Akhal: Kulgam Anti-Terror Operation Intensifies