2 Punjab soldiers killed in Kulgam encounter
Two Army men were killed and two others injured in an encounter with terrorists in south Kashmir’s Kulgam district, the ongoing operation entering its ninth day on Saturday and being one of the longest in Jammu and Kashmir in recent years.
The martyrs belonged to Punjab and have been identified as Lance Naik Pritpal Singh of Manupur village in Khanna and Sepoy Harminder Singh of Badinpur village in Mandi Gobindgarh.
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann expressed grief over the deaths and announced an honorarium of Rs 1 crore each to the families of the deceased soldiers. “We salute the spirit and bravery of the martyrs. As per our government’s promise, an honorarium of Rs 1 crore each will be provided to their families,” CM Mann posted on X. J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah visited the Chinar Corps headquarters at Badamibagh in Srinagar and laid a wreath in the honour of the martyred soldiers. The anti-terror operation started last week in a dense forest of Akhal. Eight Army personnel have so far been injured, with the security forces making all-out efforts to eliminate the hiding terrorists, who appear to be highly trained and well-equipped. The area has been experiencing heavy firing for several days, including during night hours.
Of late, militants have shifted their bases to jungles and high-altitude areas due to the heavy deployment of security forces in various parts of J&K in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack in which 26 civilians were killed.
The body of one militant has been retrieved from the gunfight site while another terrorist is also believed to have been killed. Intelligence inputs had suggested that at least five militants were holed up in the forest when the operation started.
With the operation getting prolonged, top security officials, including J&K Director General of Police Nalin Prabhat and General Officer Commanding of the 15 Corps, Lt Gen Prashant Srivastava, have visited the site. The Army has deployed elite commandos and is taking the assistance of drones and helicopters to locate the militants.
Army’s Srinagar-based Chinar Corps wrote on X, “Chinar Corps honours the supreme sacrifice of the bravehearts. Their courage and dedication will forever inspire us. The Army expresses deepest condolences and stands in solidarity with the bereaved families.”
Army’s Northern Commander Lt Gen Pratik Sharma also paid homage to the martyrs. “The Northern Command stands firm with the bereaved families in this hour of grief,” the Army said.
India