J&K: 2 Infiltrators Killed Near LoC; 2 Forest Employees Injured in Firing in Pulwama

Srinagar: Two militants were killed, and four civilians, including two non-locals, were injured in three separate incidents in the Kashmir valley, according to police officials on Wednesday.

Additional Director General of Police Kashmir, Vijay Kumar, stated that two militants suspected to be foreigners were killed in an operation in the Machhal sector of Kupwara district. 

The operation, jointly launched by the Indian Army, Border Security Forces (BSF), and the J&K police, foiled an infiltration bid along the Line of Control in North Kashmir’s border district.

The Army’s Chinar Corps spokesperson said, "Two terrorists were eliminated, and four AK Rifles, six hand grenades, and other war-like stores have been recovered. The operation is in progress."

The identity of the slain militants is yet to be ascertained by the security forces.

This is the second infiltration attempt thwarted by the forces along the LoC this week. On Monday, two infiltrators were killed near the LoC in the Poonch sector of Jammu. 

Since Monday, eight militants have been killed in three separate incidents in the region. At least 17 militants have been killed in Kupwara since February, mostly in infiltration bids.

In South Kashmir's Pulwama district, the J&K Police reported that at least two forest department employees were injured after unidentified gunmen believed to be militants fired at them at Bangender Bridge. The employees had set up a checkpoint to apprehend timber smugglers near the spot, following which militants allegedly attacked them. "However, the injured were immediately evacuated to the hospital for treatment," the police said.

The police added that senior police officers and additional reinforcement reached the spot soon after the firing incident to ascertain the facts. "A case vide FIR No. 79/2023 under sections 16,20 UAP (Act), 307 IPC, and 7/ 27 IA Act got registered in PS Rajpora, and investigation has been initiated," the police statement added.

The whole area has been cordoned off by the Police, Army, and CAPFs as a search operation was launched to locate the attackers.

The incident was reported only hours after suspected militants fired upon two non-local labourers in South Kashmir’s Anantnag district, a second such targeted attack against non-local workers in July. According to the police, the injured were shifted to a hospital, where their condition was reported as stable. 

Earlier, three non-local labourers were targeted by armed assailants in South Kashmir's Shopian district, leaving them grievously injured.