Jammu and Kashmir Police stated on Tuesday that an exchange of fire broke out between Security Forces and terrorists in the area of Poonch district. Further details are awaited.
Earlier on Monday, the confrontation occurred after security forces initiated a cordon and search operation in the Aragam area on Sunday night, following intelligence about the presence of terrorists.
The Srinagar-based Chinar Corps of the Indian Army confirmed the death of one terrorist. The operation was ongoing at the time of the latest reports.
"Based on specific intelligence input regarding the presence of terrorists, a joint operation was launched by the Indian Army and Jammu and Kashmir Police on the intervening night of June 16-17 in the general area of Gurihajin, Aragam Bandipoora; one terrorist was eliminated, operation in progress," the Chinar Corps posted on X. Officials stated that the gunfight began after terrorists opened fire on security personnel. The identity of the slain terrorist was initially unknown.
"One body has been spotted at the site of the encounter while searches are on to look for more terrorists in the area," an official said earlier, as per PTI.
The terrorist was later identified as Umar Lone, a category A terrorist of Lashkar-e-Taiba, active since 2018. Addressing a press conference at the headquarters of the army's 3 Sector Rashtriya Rifles (RR) at Manasbal, Brigadier Vipul Tyagi stated that security forces had been monitoring the area based on intelligence inputs suggesting terrorist movement in the Aragam area.
Terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir are categorised as A, B, or C depending on their involvement in militant activities. Lone was implicated in various terrorists-related activities, including recruitment, illegal killings, and the expansion of the overground worker (OGW) network.