Terrorist killed in Budgam encounter, hunt on for second

SRINAGAR: One terrorist was killed and an AK-series rifle along with other war-like stores was recovered during a joint operation by the Indian Army, J&K Police and CRPF in the Ashdar Gali area of central Kashmir’s Budgam district, officials said on Friday.

The operation was launched on the basis of specific intelligence inputs after security forces tracked the movement of a suspected terror group travelling from Ashdar Gali in Poonch towards Pakherpora in Pulwama through Yousmarg in Budgam. The group was tracked across high-altitude mountain passes in the Pir Panjal range.

According to officials, security forces had laid a cordon in the area on September 1, while contact with the terrorists was established on September 3 after troops detected suspicious movement. When challenged, the terrorists opened fire, triggering a fierce exchange of gunfire in which one terrorist was neutralised.

The identity of the slain terrorist is yet to be established, although officials suspect he may be a Pakistani national. Security forces recovered an AK rifle and other military-grade stores from the encounter site.

The search operation remains underway for a second terrorist, who is believed to have been injured and may still be hiding in the rugged terrain. Additional troops have been deployed across the higher reaches, with J&K Police and CRPF providing support to maintain the cordon and prevent any escape.

The Army has also strengthened its deployment from the Jammu side to block possible escape routes.

The encounter site is located in an extremely remote and difficult-to-access area, with troops reportedly required to trek nearly 10 hours from the Doodhpathri side to reach the location.

The Army’s Chinar Corps said in a post on X that vigilant troops observed suspicious activity during a joint search operation and, after being challenged, terrorists opened fire. It said one terrorist was neutralised and an AK rifle and other war-like stores were recovered, while the search operation continued.

Meanwhile, Inspector General of Police, Kashmir Zone, Sujit Kumar, reached near the operation site to take stock of the ongoing operation.

Security forces are continuing extensive searches in the area to locate the remaining terrorist and ensure that no further threat remains.

In July, the Army and J&K Police had also neutralized a terrorist identified as Zakir Ganie in the Shopian region.