Army JCO killed, 3 Indian Army paratroopers injured in encounter with terrorists in Kishtwar, J&K

On Sunday, a fierce encounter erupted between Indian Army paratroopers and suspected militants in the Kishtwar district of Jammu and Kashmir. The gunfight began around 11:00 am in the dense forested area of Bhart Ridge, located within the larger Keshwan and Kuntwara forests. The operation was launched following specific intelligence inputs about the presence of militants, who are believed to be part of a group responsible for multiple violent attacks in the region, including the killings of two Village Defence Group (VDG) members.

Naib Subedar Rakesh Kumar, a Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO) of the 2 Para (Special Forces), was killed in the firefight. In addition, three other paratroopers were injured during the operation. The injured soldiers were immediately evacuated by air to Udhampur, where they are reported to be in stable condition. The operation remains ongoing, with security forces continuing to engage the militants who are believed to be hiding in the area.

The attack on November 10 is connected to the recent killings of two VDG members, Nazir Ahmad and Kuldip Kumar, on November 8 in the Munzala Dhar area of Kishtwar. The VDG members were murdered while grazing cattle, and the militant group “Kashmir Tigers,” an offshoot of Jaish-e-Mohammad, claimed responsibility for the killings. This attack significantly heightened security concerns in the region, prompting security forces to intensify their operations in Kishtwar.

As part of a broader counter-terrorism strategy, the Army and Jammu and Kashmir Police have launched a joint operation to neutralize the militants behind the VDG killings. The militants are believed to be hiding in the forests of Kuntwara and Keshwan, and the ongoing operation has been marked by intense gunfire exchanges. The area has been under heavy security surveillance, with forces conducting combing operations to locate and eliminate the remaining militants. The encounter is still ongoing, and the exact number of militants involved remains unclear.

This operation is part of a series of high-profile encounters and military actions in Jammu and Kashmir in recent weeks. On November 8, an anti-terror combing operation in Baramulla resulted in the death of two militants, while on November 9, one militant was killed in Sopore during a similar operation. Additionally, earlier in November, three terrorists, including Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) commander Usman Lashkari, were killed in two separate operations. These efforts reflect a significant ramp-up in security measures aimed at combating the rising militant activities across the region. The White Knight Corps has paid tribute to Naib Subedar Rakesh Kumar, acknowledging his supreme sacrifice in service to the nation.