Operation Guddar: Two army personnel killed in Kulgam encounter; two terrorists eliminated

NEW DELHI: Two soldiers lost their lives and another was left injured after an encounter broke out with terrorists in the Kulgam district of southern Kashmir, on Monday.The gunfight took place in the Guddar forest during a joint search operation by the Indian Army, Jammu and Kashmir Police and the CRPF. The operation, codenamed ‘Operation Guddar’, was launched following specific intelligence inputs.Three Army personnel were injured in the exchange, of whom two later died in hospital."Based on specific intelligence input by JKP, a joint search operation was launched by IndianArmy, Jammu Kashmir Police & CRPF Srinagar in Guddar forest of Kulgam," the Srinagar-based Chinar Corps of the Army said in a post on X.It added that vigilant troops had spotted suspicious movement and challenged it, after which the terrorists opened fire, "prompting a fierce exchange of gunfire.”Officials also confirmed that two terrorists were killed in the operation who belonged to the Lashkar-e-Taiba, as per reports. According to initial reports, one of them was a local militant while the other is believed to be a foreigner operating under the code name ‘Rehman Bhai’.The Kashmir Zone Police had earlier said on X, "Based on specific intelligence, an encounter has started in the Guddar forest of the Kulgam. SOG of J&K Police, Army and CRPF on the job. Further details to follow."