Diplomat Correspondent
Srinagar, (DD)In a significant breakthrough, three Pakistan-sponsored terrorists were gunned down in an encounter in the upper forested areas of Dachigam, Harwan on the outskirts of Srinagar on Monday. The operation was jointly carried out by the Indian Army and Jammu & Kashmir Police following specific intelligence inputs.
According to senior officials, there is a high probability that the neutralized terrorists were involved in the brutal Pahalgam terror attack earlier this month, which left 26 civilians dead and several injured. Forensic and intelligence teams are on the ground to verify identities and establish a definitive link to the attack.
The encounter began late in the afternoon when security forces launched a cordon-and-search operation in the densely forested region. Contact was established with the hiding militants, leading to a fierce exchange of gunfire that lasted several hours.
All three terrorists were eliminated, and weapons, ammunition, and incriminating material were recovered from the site.
“This is a major success. Initial leads indicate that these terrorists may have been involved in the Pahalgam massacre. We are verifying details, but it’s a strong lead,” a top security official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
The encounter marks a major counter-terror success in Kashmir and comes amid intensified operations to dismantle terror networks operating with cross-border support from Pakistan.
Security in nearby areas, including Srinagar, Harwan, and the Dachigam National Park zone, has been tightened as a precautionary measure.
Further investigations are underway(DD)