Two soldiers martyred in Kulgam encounter; anti-terror op enters 9th day

An intense anti-terror operation in Jammu and Kashmir's Kulgam district has tragically claimed the lives of two soldiers, with two more sustaining injuries. The Indian Army on Saturday honored the supreme sacrifice of the "Bravehearts," identifying them as Lance Naik Pritpal Singh and Sepoy Harminder Singh. The ongoing gunfight, which began on August 1, has now entered its ninth day, marking one of the longest anti-terror operations in the valley in recent times.

The encounter was triggered after security forces, acting on specific intelligence inputs about the presence of terrorists, launched a cordon and search operation in the dense forest area of Akhal in the south Kashmir district. An initial exchange of fire took place on Friday, August 1. The operation was then halted for the night, but a tight cordon was maintained and additional troops were rushed to the area to reinforce the security perimeter.

According to officials, the operation has been particularly challenging due to the difficult terrain and dense forest cover, which the terrorists are using to their advantage. "Yes, it's taking time because of the difficult terrain and forest area. But we will track them down," said J&K Director General of Police Nalin Prabhath, who is personally monitoring the situation. Top police and army commanders are regularly visiting the site to supervise the operation and strategize the next moves.

The Chinar Corps of the Indian Army, in a post on X (formerly Twitter), expressed their condolences and paid tribute to the fallen soldiers. The post stated: "Chinar Corps honours the supreme sacrifice of the Bravehearts, L/Nk Pritpal Singh and Sep Harminder Singh, in line of duty for the Nation. Their courage and dedication will forever inspire us. #IndianArmy expresses deepest condolences and stand in solidarity with the bereaved families. Operation continues."