Terrorist killed; 1-2 more trapped in central Kashmir forest gunfight
In central Kashmir’s Yusmarg forests, security forces killed one terrorist and say 1-2 more may be hiding as a combing operation continues after an exchange of fire. The joint operation involved the Army, police and CRPF based on actionable intelligence.
Key takeaways
- A joint operation by the Indian Army, Jammu and Kashmir Police, and CRPF occurred in the Ashdar Gali area near Yusmarg, Budgam.
- One terrorist was neutralised; an AK rifle and other war-like stores were recovered.
- Officials say 1-2 more terrorists may be in the area, with the combing operation extended into dense forests.
What Happened
In the forests around Yusmarg, in central Kashmir, security forces conducted a joint search operation that involved the Indian Army, the Jammu and Kashmir Police, and the Central Reserve Police Force. The operation began after intelligence indicated activity in the Ashdar Gali area of Budgam district. During intensified searches, security personnel encountered terrorists who opened fire as they attempted to break through the security cordon. In the ensuing gunfight, security forces say one terrorist was neutralised. An AK rifle and other war-like stores were recovered from the scene. Officials describe the operation as ongoing, with 1-2 additional terrorists believed to be in the area and the combing effort extended into dense forested terrain. This followed a previous firefight in the same general area earlier in the week, and is noted as the second such gunfight in the Valley so far this year.
The authorities described the encounter as continuing under a tightened cordon, with security teams advancing their search as they evaluate new intelligence. The statement from the Army’s Srinagar-based Chinar Corps confirmed the sequence of events and the recovery of weaponry, and it referenced the earlier firefight in the same forested zone near Ashdar Gali, which connects Budgam to the Poonch region.
In context, the report also references a separate, prior incident on July 8 in Shopian, where a Lashkar-e-Toiba operative named Zakir Ahmad Ganai was killed in a gunfight, and notes he was one of only two active terrorists in the Valley at that time. The current operation continues in the broader security effort to disrupt militant activity in the region.
Why It Matters
Security forces are actively pursuing militants in a region with a history of insurgent activity, and the latest encounter demonstrates a continuing emphasis on cordon-and-search operations in forested areas. The joint operation underscores ongoing collaboration among Army, police and CRPF in central Kashmir, particularly in districts bordering other parts of the Kashmir Valley. Officials describe the confrontation as part of a broader effort to reduce militant presence in sensitive forested corridors that connect multiple districts.
Background
The area around Yusmarg sits in central Kashmir, with Ashdar Gali described as a forested zone linking Budgam to the Poonch area. The security operation there has been described as a response to intelligence inputs and subsequent exchanges of fire with militants, with authorities tightening their cordon and expanding the search in pursuit of additional suspects. The valley has experienced multiple gunfights between security forces and militants over the year, though this marks only the second such engagement recorded in the current year, according to the brief from authorities.
Key Facts
- Location of operation: Ashdar Gali area, Budgam district, central Kashmir; near Yusmarg
- Parties involved: Indian Army, Jammu and Kashmir Police, Central Reserve Police Force
- Time reference: September 4, 2026; joint statement notes 08:22 PM IST filing
- Outcome: one terrorist neutralised; one AK rifle and other war-like stores recovered
- Current assessment: 1-2 more terrorists believed to be in the forests; combing operation extended
- Context: this is the second gunfight in the Kashmir Valley this year; prior incident noted on July 8 in Shopian where Zakir Ahmad Ganai was killed
What Happens Next
Officials indicate the search operation will continue in the forested area as intelligence assessments are updated and troops pursue any remaining militants. The security establishment has not publicized any timing for a conclusion of the combing operation, but they described it as an ongoing effort prompted by recent intelligence and ongoing assessments of militant presence in the region.
Sources reviewed
Project Chintan independently synthesized and analyzed information cross-checked across the sources listed above.
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