Srinagar: Joint forces killed 6 terrorists in last 48 hours

Srinagar: A joint press briefing was held here on Friday, in which senior officers of the Army, Jammu and Kashmir Police and CRPF said that six terrorists were neutralised by joint forces in the Valley during the last 48 hours. The joint press briefing was addressed by IGP (Kashmir) V.K. Birdi Kumar, GoC Victor Force Major General Dhananjay Joshi and IG CRPF, Mitesh Jain. IGP (Kashmir) Kumar said that 6 terrorists were neutralised in the Valley in two separate operations carried out by the Army in coordination with Jammu and Kashmir Police and CRPF in Kellar, Shopian and Tral. “In view of the increased terror activities in Kashmir Valley, all security forces deployed here reviewed their strategies. After this review, there was greater focus on the operations. “Based on this intense focus and coordination, we carried out two successful operations in the last 48 hours during which we achieved significant success. Both these operations were carried out in Kellar of Shopian and Tral areas, resulting in the elimination of a total of six terrorists.

IGP Kashmir said, “We are committed to eliminate the terror ecosystem in Kashmir valley.” Major General Dhananjay Joshi, GoC Victor Force, elaborated on the counter-terrorism operations in Kelar and Tral areas and the challenges faced by the joint forces during these two operations. “On May 12, we received information about the possible presence of a terrorist group in the high altitude areas of Kelar. On the morning of May 13, on detecting some movement, our parties challenged the terrorists, who retaliated. Our parties killed them. The second operation in Tral area was carried out in a village. While we were cordoning off this village, the terrorists hid in different houses and fired upon us. At this time, the challenge before us was to save the civilian villagers.” Subsequently, three terrorists were neutralised. One of the six terrorists killed, Shahid Kuttay, was involved in two major attacks, including the attack on a German tourist. He also had a hand in funding activities,” GoC Victor Force said. After the Pahalgam terror attack in which 26 civilians, including a local, were killed by LeT terrorists, joint forces have intensified their campaign against terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir. In retaliation to the terror attack, India launched ‘Operation Sindoor’ in which precision strikes destroyed terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and killed around 100 terror operatives at key hideouts in Pakistan. The targets included Jaish’s headquarters Bhawalpur and LeT’s main training base Muridke. Both countries announced a ceasefire but the Indian government has said that the Indus Water Treaty and trade with Pakistan will remain suspended. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that water and blood cannot flow together and talks with Pakistan can only be held on terrorism and PoK. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh addressed soldiers here yesterday and said the ceasefire agreement is valid only as long as Pakistan does not allow any terrorist activity against India from its soil.