Jammu: Two days after three terrorists involved in the April 22 Pahalgam attack were eliminated during an encounter in the Dachigam forests of Kashmir, two more terrorists were gunned down by Indian Army troops on Wednesday in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir, in what has been codenamed ‘Operation Shiv Shakti’. Three weapons have also been recovered from their possession.
As per officials, the Army troops intercepted the two terrorists trying to infiltrate into the Indian side from across the border in Poonch sector, following which an encounter broke out.
Sharing details, defence spokesman said a suspected movement was observed near the LoC after which a contact was established. “Suspected movement of two individuals was observed by own troops along the fence in gen area of Poonch Sector. Gunfire exchanged,” stated the White Knight Corps of Indian Army.
Even though the infiltration bid by terrorists has been foiled, operation was still underway till filing of this report.
On Monday, under Operation Mahadev, three hardcore Pakistani terrorists, including Suleman Shah, the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) commander and his two associates, Abu Hamza and Jibran Bhai, were gunned down in a joint operation by the Army, CRPF and J&K Police in the higher reaches of Dachigam National Park at the foot of Mahadev Mountain Peak in Harwan area of Srinagar.
During the debate on Operation Sindoor in Parliament on Wednesday, Union Home Minister Amit Shah confirmed that these three terrorists had carried out the Pahalgam terror attack in which 26 civilians, including 25 tourists and a local, were killed.
Shah said their identification was corroborated by the mothers of two locals who are now in custody allegedly for harbouring the Pahalgam attackers. Moreover, the three rifles, including M4 carbine and AK-47 rifles recovered from the terrorists also matched with the FSL report of cartridges from the terror attack, the home minister said.
