Soldier Killed, Three Injured in Militant Shootout in J&K’s Kishtwar
An Army soldier was killed and three other security personnel were injured during an encounter with militants in the Keshwan forests of Jammu and Kashmir’s Kishtwar district on Sunday. The encounter occurred while security forces were conducting a seek-and-destroy operation in the area, which has been ongoing for the past three days following the killing of two village defence guards earlier this week.
The soldier killed in action has been identified as Naib Subedar Rakesh Kumar of the 2 Para Special Forces. The White Knight Corps, in a post on X (formerly Twitter), paid tribute to the brave soldier, stating, “Sub Rakesh was part of a joint CI (counter-insurgency) operation launched in the general area of Bhart Ridge, Kishtwar on 9 Nov 2024. We stand with the bereaved family in this hour of grief.”
Sources have reported sightings of two to three militants in the dense forested area, and security forces continue their operations to neutralize the threat. The injured personnel were immediately evacuated and are receiving medical treatment.
This encounter is part of a broader effort by security forces in the region to track down and eliminate militant groups that have become increasingly active in the area. The operation follows several other recent incidents, contributing to heightened security tensions in Jammu and Kashmir.
As the security situation remains volatile, the operation is expected to continue, with reinforcements being deployed to ensure the safety of the region’s residents and prevent further militant activity.