Two Indian Army soldiers were killed in a gunfight with suspected militants in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kulgam district, Srinagar-based Chinar Corps stated on Saturday.
The gunfight came amid a security operation codenamed “Operation Akhal”, which was launched on August 1 after the Army received intelligence inputs about militant presence in the Akhal forest.
This is one of the longest-running anti-terror operations in the Kashmir Valley in recent years, according to The Indian Express.
The soldiers who died were Lance Naik Pritpal Singh and Sepoy Harminder Singh.
“Indian Army expresses deepest condolences and stand in solidarity with the bereaved families,” stated the Chinar Corps.
Two other soldiers were injured in a gunfight on Friday night. With this, nine security personnel have been injured in the ongoing Operation Akhal, PTI reported, quoting unidentified officials.
So far, one suspected militant has been killed in the operation. However, the identity and affiliation of the suspected militants are yet to be established.
The joint operation is being carried out by the Indian Army, Jammu and Kashmir Police, the Central Reserve Police Force and the Special Operations Group.
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