Fresh gunfire erupted in Kulgam district's Akhal area in South Kashmir, continuing into the second day of an operation by security forces. The operation, initiated on Friday evening based on specific intelligence inputs regarding militant presence, resulted in the neutralization of two militants.

The initial exchange of fire on Friday led to the death of one militant. The operation was paused overnight, with security forces tightening the cordon around the area to prevent the escape of other militants. Additional reinforcements were brought in to assist with the operation.

On Saturday morning, firing resumed, resulting in the killing of a second militant. The army's Chinar Corps reported that intermittent and intense firefight continued through the night. Alert troops responded with calibrated fire, maintaining contact with the militants. J&K DGP Nalin Prabhat also arrived at the encounter site in AkhalDevsar. The SOG (Special Operations Group) of J&K Police, along with the Army and CRPF, are jointly conducting the operation. The identities and group affiliations of the slain militants are currently being verified. Initial reports suggest that one of the slain militants has been identified as Haris Nazir Dar, a resident of Pulwama.

This recent encounter in Akhal marks the third major operation in the last week. Earlier in the week, an encounter took place in the Kalsian-Gulpur area after Indian forces intercepted a group of terrorists attempting to infiltrate the border. Furthermore, on July 28, three Pakistani terrorists were killed in the forested Lidwas area near Harwan, on the outskirts of Srinagar. One of the terrorists was identified as Suleiman, allegedly the mastermind of the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack. The other two were identified as Afghan and Jibran.

In a separate incident on Friday, police claimed to have foiled a terror plot in Anantnag district by arresting three individuals and recovering arms and ammunition from their possession. Preliminary investigations suggest that the arrested individuals had procured arms and ammunition from LeT (Lashkar-e-Toiba) and were planning to carry out a terror act in the region.

The ongoing operation in Akhal highlights the continued efforts by security forces to maintain peace and security in the region. The successful neutralization of the militants is a testament to the coordinated efforts of the J&K Police, Army, and CRPF. Authorities remain vigilant and are taking proactive measures to prevent any potential terror threats.