'Operation Akhal': One Terrorist Gunned Down By Security Forces In Kulgam Encounter

The Indian Army said on Saturday (2 August) morning that one terrorist has been eliminated in an ongoing encounter with security forces in Kulgam district of Jammu and Kashmir, NDTV reported.

Based on specific intelligence inputs about the presence of terrorists, security personnel launched a search operation in the Akhal forest area on Friday. The situation escalated into an encounter when terrorists opened fire at the forces.

"Intermittent and intense fire fight continued through the night. Alert troops responded with calibrated fire and tightened the nooze while maintaining contact. One terrorist has been neutralised by the security forces so far. Operation (Akhal) continues," Army's Chinar Corps said in a post on X this morning.

This operation follows the killing of three terrorists involved in the 22 April Pahalgam massacre, under the Operation Mahadev.

Security forces eliminated Sulieman alias Asif and two aides in an encounter at Mulnar near Dachigam National Park on 28 July.

The two others neutralised during the Mulnar encounter were Jibran—linked to the Sonamarg Tunnel attack—and Hamza Afghani.

The 22 April massacre in Pahalgam, which claimed 26 lives—mostly tourists—triggered the launch of Operation Sindoor on 7 May to target terror networks operating from Pakistan.

Earlier on Thursday (31 July), two more terrorists were killed near the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch. The duo had infiltrated from Pakistan and were intercepted soon after they entered the Indian side.

Also Read: Days After Operation Mahadev, Indian Army Strikes Again In J&K's Poonch; Two Terrorists Eliminated In Operation ShivShakti