Srinagar: A gunbattle is underway between militants and security forces in Jammu and Kashmir’s Bandipora district, the Army said here on Tuesday.
This is the eighth gunbattle in Kashmir this month.
The latest encounter erupted at Nagmarg Bandipora, a village on the border of Kupwara and Bandipora, when a joint operation was launched following an input about militant presence.
In a post on X, the Army’s Srinagar-based Chinar Corps said the joint forces noticed suspicious activity during the operation, and on being challenged, terrorists opened indiscriminate fire, which was retaliated.
“On 12 Nov 24, based on specific intelligence input regarding the presence of terrorists, a joint operation was launched by the Indian Army and @JmuKmrPolice in the general area of Nagmarg, Bandipora. Suspicious activity was observed by vigilant troops, and on being challenged, terrorists opened indiscriminate fire. Own troops effectively retaliated. Operation is in progress,” the Army said.
Additional forces have been rushed to the area to ensure a tight cordon of the area.
This is the fifth encounter in north Kashmir districts in the past ten days. In earlier four encounters, five militants believed to be foreigners were killed.
Security forces have intensified anti-militancy operations in north Kashmir amid input that militants are trying to sneak into the valley from across the border ahead of winter.