By Staff Reporter | Srinagar | August 2, 2025 : One terrorist was killed on Saturday in an ongoing gunfight between security forces and militants in the Akhal forest area of Kulgam district in south Kashmir, officials confirmed.
The encounter began after intelligence inputs indicated the presence of terrorists in the dense forest region. Acting swiftly, joint forces comprising the Indian Army, Jammu and Kashmir Police, and CRPF launched a Cordon and Search Operation (CASO) on Friday.
“Exchange of fire between the joint forces and the hiding terrorists is taking place and one terrorist has been killed in this ongoing operation so far. The identity and affiliation of the slain terrorist will be ascertained after the operation concludes,” an official said.
The latest gun battle comes amid heightened counter-terror operations in the region following the deadly April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam that claimed 26 lives. As part of intensified efforts to dismantle terrorist networks, security forces have been aggressively pursuing militants, overground workers (OGWs), and their support infrastructure.
In a significant development on July 28, three hardcore Pakistani terrorists responsible for the Pahalgam attack were neutralized in the Dachigam National Park area near Srinagar. The slain terrorists included Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) commander Suleman Shah and his close associates Abu Hamza and Jibran Bhai. The high-altitude operation was code-named ‘Operation Mahadev’ and was carried out by Indian Army special units in the Harwan area, close to the Mahadev mountain peak.
Sources within the security establishment said the current strategy is focused not just on neutralizing active terrorists, but on dismantling the broader support ecosystem, including terror financiers and drug syndicates. Investigations have revealed that hawala money channels and drug trafficking are being used to fund terror operations in Jammu and Kashmir.
Security along the Line of Control (LoC) remains on high alert, with the Indian Army maintaining strict surveillance to thwart cross-border infiltration attempts.
As of now, the operation in Kulgam remains active, with more details expected as the area is sanitized.
