Umaisar Gull Ganaie
Kulgam, Dec 19: Five terrorists were killed, and two army personnel were injured during a fierce encounter at Kadder village of Behibagh, Kulgam, on Thursday. The security agencies have hailed the operation as a major step forward in their mission to eradicate terrorism from the region.
Acting on a credible intelligence about the presence of terrorists in the area, a joint team comprising the Jammu and Kashmir Police, the Army’s 34 Rashtriya Rifles, and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) launched a cordon-and-search operation late Wednesday night.
The operation culminated in a five-hour-long gunfight, during which five militants belonging to the Hizbul Mujahideen outfit were neutralized.
The slain terrorists were identified as Farooq Ahmad Bhat, Mushtaq Ahmad Yatoo, Irfan Yaqoob, Adil Hajam, and Yasir Javed—all residents of Kulgam district. Farooq Ahmad Bhat, the oldest among them, had been active since 2015 and was a key commander of Hizbul Mujahideen. He had 37 FIRs registered against him. Mushtaq Ahmad Yatoo had joined the Hizbul Mujahideen cadre in 2020 and according to police, was also deeply entrenched in terrorist operations.
Brigadier Anirudh Chauhan, Commander of 2 Sector Rashtriya Rifles, while addressing the press after the gun-battle, lauded the coordinated efforts of the security forces. “We achieved significant success when we received news last night that a group of Hizbul Mujahideen cadres was present in the residential area. The operation was planned meticulously and launched jointly by the Army, Jammu and Kashmir Police, and CRPF. Farooq Ahmad Bhat, who played a pivotal role in reviving terrorism in the region, was among those neutralized. With the elimination of these five terrorists, not only has Hizbul Mujahideen’s presence in Shopian and Kulgam been wiped out, but terrorism in Kashmir has suffered a significant setback,” he told reporters.
He further credited the success to the cooperation of local residents. “I would like to thank the people of Kulgam, who provided crucial information and extended their full support during the operation. The synergy of security forces and the commitment of the Indian Army to establish peace in Kashmir could be gauged by today’s success,” Brigadier Chauhan added.
During the encounter, two soldiers sustained gunshot injuries and were promptly evacuated to the 92 Base Hospital in Srinagar. Both are reported to be in stable condition and are expected to recover soon.
According to Javed Iqbal Matoo, DIG South Kashmir, the operation also led to the recovery of arms, ammunition, and important documents. “These items will be examined as part of the ongoing investigation and have been included in the FIR. The sustained surveillance and intelligence-sharing among security agencies proved effective in today’s gun-battle,” Matoo said during a press briefing.
By the security grid, elimination of these key figures is being hailed as a significant victory. “The killing of Farooq Ahmad Bhat and his associates has dealt a severe blow to Hizbul Mujahideen’s capabilities in south Kashmir,” Matoo said. He reiterated the security forces’ resolve to root out terrorism from the valley. (KNO)
