Kulgam, April 23- Less than 24 hours after a deadly terrorist attack claimed the lives of 26 civilians in Pahalgam, a fierce encounter broke out between militants and security forces in South Kashmir’s Kulgam district on Wednesday.
According to official sources, the encounter began after security forces launched a search and cordon operation in the area following reports of suspicious movement. As the forces began combing the area, they came under heavy gunfire, leading to a gun battle.
The operation is ongoing, and reinforcements have been rushed to the site to prevent any escape attempts by the militants.
The latest clash comes on the heels of Tuesday’s horrific massacre in the Baisaran meadows of Pahalgam, where terrorists opened fire on civilians, killing at least 26 people—most of them tourists. The attack, one of the worst in the region in recent years, has sent shockwaves across the country.
In response, the Indian Army and Jammu and Kashmir Police have intensified operations in and around Pahalgam, including in the general area of Baisaran in the Anantnag district, to track down and neutralize those responsible for the attack.
This tragic incident marks one of the deadliest assaults on civilians in Kashmir since the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019, raising fresh concerns about the security situation in the Valley.
