Numan Bhat
SRINAGAR: An Army Special Forces soldier was killed, and three others were injured during an encounter with militants in a remote forest area Kishtwar district while militants exchanged fire security forces in the dense forests of Zabarwan range on the outskirts of Srinagar city on Sunday.
The Army’s White Knight Corps confirmed that Naib Subedar Rakesh Kumar of 2 Para (Special Forces) lost his life, while three other commandos sustained injuries during the gunfight, which began on Sunday, November 10, 2024.
“GOC White Knight Corps and all ranks salute the supreme sacrifice of Nb Sub Rakesh Kumar of 2 Para (SF),” the Corps stated. “Naib Subedar Kumar was part of a joint counter-insurgency operation in the Bhart Ridge area of Kishtwar. We stand in solidarity with his family during this hour of grief.”
The encounter erupted when a joint search team from the Army and Jammu and Kashmir Police intercepted militants in the Keshwan forest, close to where the bodies of two Village Defence Guards, Nazir Ahmad and Kuldeep Kumar, were recently discovered.
This marks the third such encounter in the region within 24 hours. Earlier, security forces engaged in an exchange of fire with militants during an anti-insurgency operation in Srinagar’s Zabarwan forest.
“A joint operation involving police and security forces was launched based on intelligence about terrorist presence, resulting in a firefight,” said Kashmir Zone Police.
Encounter in Zabarwan Range
Less than a month after the last clash, militants once again exchanged fire with security forces in the dense forests of the Zabarwan Range on Sunday.
The gunfight created panic among locals, forcing many to seek safer locations. In response, additional security forces were deployed to reinforce the security cordon around the area.
The encounter near Nishat, on the shores of Dal Lake, followed a similar one earlier this month in the Khanyar area of Srinagar. That earlier clash resulted in the killing of a top Pakistani commander from the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT).
The encounter in Zabarwan lasted for several hours before the firing stopped, with believing the militants managed to escape. However, the search for the militants continued as of the last reports received.
Eyewitnesses reported hearing gunshots in the forest area shortly after a team of Army, police, and CRPF personnel arrived and began a search operation around 9.00 AM.
Abdul Salam, a local resident, shared, “After returning from Fajr prayers and buying bread from the nearby shop, I finished my morning tea. Suddenly, I heard many shots but didn’t realize they were gunshots or that something was happening so close by. At first, I thought it was construction noise, but then I saw people stepping out of their homes, looking around anxiously. I, along with my family, quickly moved inside for safety, shutting doors and windows as the tension grew in the neighborhood,” he added.
Kamran Khan, another resident, shared, “Last evening, I told my mother not to disturb me in the morning because I wanted to rest and sleep in, as it was Sunday. But that plan was gone when, around 9.00 or 9.10 AM, I heard loud noises in the area. I woke up, quickly got my family together, and tried to find out what was happening. For about an hour, we were in the dark, not knowing what was going on. Then we heard that there was a gunfight nearby, right in our neighborhood,”he added.
After the gunfire exchange began, additional forces from the Special Operations Group (SOG) and the CRPF quickly arrived at the scene and established a strict cordon around the area.
To prevent casualties, security forces restricted civilian movement during the operation. Journalists who arrived to cover the encounter were also kept at a safe distance to ensure their safety.
Aqib, a young boy from the area, said, “I was preparing for my match and calling my teammates when suddenly the gunfire started. At first, I thought it was just noise from the road, but then I saw people running and realized something serious was happening. Everyone around me panicked, so I quickly rushed home to stay safe. I was scared because I didn’t know what was going on, and I just wanted to be with my family,” he said.
Earlier, police in a post on X said, “A joint police and security forces operation was launched in Zabarwan forest area of Srinagar based on specific intelligence about the presence of militants. An exchange of fire ensued during the operation.”
Timeline of encounters since October 8, 2024
On October 8, unidentified militants abducted an Indian Army Territorial Army (TA) trooper from Shangus in the Kokernag area of Anantnag District, Jammu and Kashmir (J&K).
On October 18, a non-local civilian from Bihar, identified as Ashok Chauhan (30), was shot dead by unidentified militants in the Wandana Malhora area of Shopian District, Jammu and Kashmir (J&K).
On October 20, militants from The Resistance Front (TRF) killed a doctor, Dr Shahnawaz, and six laborers – Faheem Nazir, Kaleem, Mohammad Hanif, Shashi Abrol, Anil Shukla, and Gurmeet Singh – in the Gund area of Gagangir, Sonamarg in Ganderbal District, Jammu and Kashmir (J&K). Five others were injured.
On October 24, a migrant worker, Shubam Kumar, 19, from Uttar Pradesh, was injured after militants fired on him in the Tral area of Pulwama District, Jammu and Kashmir.
On October 28, three suspected militants attacked an Army vehicle, firing multiple rounds near the Line of Control (LoC) at Assan temple in the Jogwan, Bhattal area of Khour in Jammu District, Jammu and Kashmir.
On November 2, a commander of Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT), identified as Usman alias Chota Waleed, was killed in a gun battle between security forces (SFs) and militants in Khanyar locality, Srinagar District, Jammu and Kashmir.
On November 2, two militants, Zahid Ahmed Reshi and Arbaz Ahmed Mir, were killed in an encounter at the Larnoo area of Anantnag District, Jammu and Kashmir.
On November 3, militants threw a grenade at a CRPF bunker near a complex housing All India Radio and Doordarshan Kendra in Lal Chowk, Srinagar, injuring at least 11 civilians.
On November 5, an unidentified militant was killed in the Ketson forest area of Bandipora District, Jammu and Kashmir.
On November 6, an unidentified militant was killed in an encounter in the Lolab area of Kupwara District, Jammu and Kashmir.
On November 8, an encounter erupted between militants and security forces (SFs) in the Sagipora area of Sopore, Baramulla District, Jammu and Kashmir.
On November 9, a fierce gunfight broke out between militants and security forces in the Rampora area of Sopore, North Kashmir.
(This news article has been updated with fresh inputs from Kishtwar in Jammu region and Srinagar in Kashmir Valley)
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