Key Takeaways
- Three soldiers from the 34 Rashtriya Rifles were killed in an encounter in Kulgam district.
- The clash occurred in the Halan forest area, prompting a massive search operation by the Army.
- The incident marks the first major Army casualties in Kashmir this year, following the anniversary of Article 370’s abrogation.
Srinagar: Three soldiers of Army’s elite counter insurgency unit were killed in an encounter in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kulgam district, officials said.
This is the first major casualties of the Army in Kashmir this year and the encounter took place on the eve of fourth anniversary of abrogation of Article 370.
Officials said the encounter started between militants and joint forces at high reaches of Halan forest area of Kulgam district on Friday, leaving three jawans critically wounded.
The injured were shifted to the Army’s Srinagar‑based 92 hospital, where they later succumbed to their injuries.
“On specific inputs regarding presence of terrorists on higher reaches of Halan in Kulgam, operations launched by Security Forces on 04 Aug 23. In exchange of firing with terrorists, three personnel sustained injuries and later succumbed,” Army said in a tweet.
There was no report of any militant casualty yet.
The slain soldiers were identified as Havaldar Babulal Haritwal, Signalman Vala Mahipalsinh Pravinsinh and Rifleman Waseem Sarwar of Army 34 Rashtriya Rifles.
Rifleman Waseem is a resident of Jammu and Kashmir’s Bandipora district. A pall of gloom descended on his native village as the news about his death reached home.
The Army said a massive search operation is still continuing in the area.
Sources said Additional forces were rushed to the area on Friday evening to trace the militants.
The gunfight erupted a day after an Army soldier, Javaid Ahmad Wani, who went missing from his native Kulgam district while he was on leave, was traced by police.
Police didn’t divulge more as to how the soldier was traced.
