Two soldiers were killed and six others including two civilians were injured in a clash that erupted between militants and security forces in Anantnag district, Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday. Two civilians were also injured in the crossfire.
The confrontation began after security forces initiated a cordon and search operation in the Ahlan Gagarmandu area of Kokernag, responding to reports of 'terrorist' activity in the region.
The officials said that the encounter broke out after the militants fired upon the search party, which retaliated.
In the gunfight, six Army personnel and two civilians were injured, officials said, adding the injured soldiers were promptly taken to a nearby hospital where two died shortly after arrival.
The remaining injured personnel and civilians are receiving medical attention, they said.
The Army has deployed reinforcements in the area and search operations have begun to locate and neutralise the militants who have escaped.
This encounter is a grim reminder of a similar operation in the general area of Kokernag last September, during which four security personnel, including Colonel Manpreet Singh, Major Ashish and Deputy SP Humayun Bhat were killed in the week-long engagement with miltants.
Two militants, including a senior commander of the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), were also neutralised during that operation.
Security forces have ramped up their efforts in the woods of Kokernag after an encounter in Doda district on July 15 that resulted in the deaths of four soldiers, including a captain.
It is believed that the mi involved in the recent Anantnag incident may have crossed over from Kishtwar district after escaping the confrontation in Doda.
The Army's Srinagar-based Chinar Corps confirmed the operation on social media platform X, stating, "Based on specific intelligence input, a joint operation was launched by the Indian Army, J&K Police, and CRPF in the general area of Kokernag, Anantnag. Contact was established and a firefight ensued."
The Army also reported the injuries to the civilians, condemning the "indiscriminate, desperate, and reckless" firing by the militants during the ongoing operation. The injured civilians have received immediate medical aid and have been evacuated for further treatment, it said.
The situation remains tense as security forces continue their search operation for more militants.
