A civilian injured during a fierce gunfight between the Indian Army and terrorists in the Kokernag area of Jammu and Kashmirs Anantnag district succumbed to his injuries on Sunday. The encounter, which began on Saturday afternoon in the Ahlan area of Anantnag, saw two terrorists trapped by security forces. The violent clash tragically claimed the lives of two army personnel—Havaldar Dipak Kumar Yadav and Lance Naik Praveen Sharma. In addition to these fatalities, six others were injured, including two civilians.Search operation continues in KokernagIn the aftermath of the encounter, the Indian Army launched an extensive search operation in the Kokernag woods, which entered its second day on Sunday. The operation aims to locate and neutralise the remaining terrorists who have taken cover in the forested area. Meanwhile, a separate encounter erupted in Kishtwar, where security forces clashed with terrorists. According to the Jammu and Kashmir police, the search operation in Kishtwar is ongoing, with reinforcements dispatched to the site.Kishtwar encounter escalatesThe brief but intense exchange of fire in Kishtwar occurred when police, aided by the army and paramilitary forces, initiated a search operation in Nownatta, Naageni Peyaas, and neighbouring areas following reports of terrorist movements. The gunfight led to a swift call for reinforcements as security forces continue their hunt for the terrorists hiding in the region.Resurgence of terrorism in Jammu and KashmirFollowing a period of relative calm after the abrogation of Article 370, Jammu and Kashmir has witnessed a troubling resurgence of terrorist activities, particularly in the Jammu region. Security officials attribute this spike in violence to attempts by Pakistani handlers to reignite terrorism in the area. Since 2021, over 70 people, including 52 security personnel—predominantly from the Indian Army—have lost their lives in terror-related incidents across the region.
