TWO heavily armed terrorists emerged from a dense cluster of trees and opened fire at a Central Reserve Police Force post in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kulgam district on Wednesday, injuring three CRPF personnel, one of them critically, officials said. The two men disappeared into the forested area after the attack that took place around 2.15 pm near Mir Bazar, about 75 km from Srinagar and just a kilometre from the strategic JammuSrinagar National Highway, they said. Initial reports suggested that the terrorists came on a motorcycle. However, ground verification during joint search operations by the Army and security agencies established that no two-wheeler was involved. Recapping what happened, officials said two men approached the checkpost on foot from a forested area about 50 metres away. One opened fire while his associate provided cover. Both terrorists fled on foot towards Naupur through the same tree line, they said.

 

“The area has dense vegetation resembling a small forest, which the terrorists used as cover before and after the attack,” an official said. A Motorola phone and a SIM card have been recovered. While official confirmation regarding the identity of the attackers is awaited, security agencies suspect the involvement of Mohammed Lateef Bhat, a local commander of the banned Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) outfit who had previously escaped a security operation in Shopian in July. The wounded troopers were rushed to a hospital in neighbouring Anantnag district, about 22 km from the site. Visuals from the ground showed medical staff rushing to assist the injured on stretchers. One CRPF jawan sustained severe abdominal injuries, while the other two suffered relatively minor wounds - one with a grazing bullet injury to his arm and the other hit in the leg and foot. Security forces have cordoned off the entire region and launched a massive hunt to track down the terrorists.

 

Additional barricades have been erected, armoured vehicles deployed, and announcements made over loudspeakers asking local residents to stay indoors. Investigators are scanning CCTV footage from nearby commercial establishments to map the movement of the attackers. Video clips from the area show shuttered shops. The rapid staccato of gunfire and shouting can be heard. The injured CRPF jawans are seen charging towards the gunmen. There were specific intelligence inputs regarding suspected terrorist movement in the area, an official said. “The high state of alertness and prompt retaliation by security personnel on the spot effectively thwarted the terrorists plans, preventing them from inflicting heavy casualties or large-scale damage,” he said, adding that the attackers were forced to retreat without achieving their intended objectives. According to security officials, the strike underscores the growing frustration and desperation among terror outfits operating in the region.

 

“They are finding it increasingly difficult to carry out strikes due to heightened operational readiness and robust area domination by security forces. The alertness and professional response of our security personnel on the ground averted a major incident and deserve high appreciation,” a senior official said. Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha was visiting Kulgam district on Wednesday but he was not near the scene of the attack. The area lies close to the Pir Panjal mountain range, which connects south Kashmir’s Kulgam with Ramban, Reasi, and Rajouri districts in Jammu division. Kulgam has witnessed multiple terror incidents recently, including the killing of two labourers from Chhattisgarh at a brick kiln on July 31 and the shooting of a police constable in neighbouring Anantnag earlier in the same month. Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah prayed for the speedy recovery of injured CRPF jawans and slammed the LG administration over the security situation in the union territory. Hitting out at official assertions regarding peace in the region, the National Conference president said the LG administration, which holds primary responsibility for law and order, must be held accountable for the continued occurrences of violence despite public claims that terrorism has been eradicated. Calling for a reassessment of the current strategy, Abdullah urged the administration to bridge existing gaps and establish a robust security mechanism by actively engaging local communities to prevent such tragedies from recurring. PDP president Mehbooba Mufti also condemned the terror attack.

 

“JKPDP President Ms. @MehboobaMufti strongly condemns the attack on CRPF personnel in Kulgam. Such acts of violence are unacceptable and deserve unequivocal condemnation,” PDP posted on its X handle. The former Chief Minister wished the injured personnel a speedy and complete recovery. “There can be no place for violence in a society that yearns for lasting peace, stability and dignity,” she added.