Two Army jawans were killed and another two injured in a deadly encounter in Kishtwar in Jammu and Kashmir on Friday evening. The two soldiers killed have been identified as Naib Subhedar Vipin kumar and Sepoy Arvind Singh. The encounter took place in the Pingnal Dugadda forest near Naidgham village in Chatroo.
The encounter began when militants opened fire on a joint security team of the Indian Army and the Jammu & Kashmir Police, as they were conducting a search in the area. Reports indicate that two to three militants are hiding in the forest, and additional reinforcements have been deployed.
Meanwhile, another encounter has started at Chak Tapper Kreeri Pattan area of Baramulla. Police and security forces are on the job, and further details are expected soon.
The Chatroo encounter comes just days after security forces killed two militants in Udhampur district. With elections approaching on September 18, security has been heightened in Kishtwar, Doda, and Ramban districts. Extra forces have been deployed to secure densely populated areas and polling stations, while ongoing search operations are continuing in the forested areas.
The attack comes just hours before Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit on Saturday. The PM is expected to visit Doda tomorrow.
The terrorist attacks have increased in recent months with attacks in Doda, Udhampur, and Kathua districts resulting in the deaths of nearly a dozen people, including two Army Captains and seven soldiers, along with three militants, who were killed in an operation in Doda.