A fresh exchange of fire took place between security forces and armed militants in Kishtwar district late Sunday night, officials said.
The incident marked the third such gunfight in the Chatroo belt of the hilly district within the past week, as joint teams of the Indian Army and the Jammu and Kashmir Police continue sustained search operations in the area.
Officials said the latest firing incident occurred around 10.20 pm when a joint search party was conducting an operation in the Janseer Kandiwar forest area. The forces came under fire during the operation and responded, triggering an intermittent exchange of gunfire.
Despite difficult weather conditions and snow-covered terrain in the Chatroo belt, security forces have maintained pressure following an earlier gunfight reported on January 18 in Sonnar village near Mandral Singhpora. That encounter resulted in the killing of a paratrooper and injuries to seven other soldiers.
Officials said the militants managed to break contact during the earlier operation by using dense forest cover and the challenging terrain. They were later intercepted a few kilometres away during another encounter on January 22, though no major breakthrough was achieved.
Security forces have continued their search efforts in the region even as the area witnessed heavy snowfall, with more than two feet of snow reported in parts of the belt, further complicating movement and operations.
Officials said the situation remains under close watch and operations are continuing. [KNT]
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