7 soldiers injured in encounter with terrorists in Kishtwar, two critical

Seven soldiers were injured, two of them critically, during an ongoing encounter between security forces and terrorists in the Sonar area of Kishtwar district on Sunday. The injured soldiers were evacuated by helicopter to the military hospital in Udhampur.

Officials said the encounter broke out after security forces launched a cordon-and-search operation in the Sonar area of Chatroo following specific intelligence inputs about the presence of terrorists. As the forces closed in, they came under heavy fire, triggering an exchange of gunfire.

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Additional troops have been dispatched to the area. The terrorists are believed to be armed with AK-47 rifles, grenades and other weapons.

Security operations have been intensified, with drones and helicopter surveillance deployed, and alerts have been issued in nearby villages.

The White Knight Corps of the Indian Army said in a post on X: “Contact was established with terrorists in the general area of Sonar, northeast of Chhatroo, during a deliberate search operation conducted as part of ongoing joint counter-terror operations along with @JmuKmrPolice. Troops displayed exceptional professionalism and resolve while responding to hostile fire under challenging terrain and conditions. Operations remain underway, with additional forces inducted to reinforce the cordon, supported by close coordination with civil administration and security agencies.”