6 Days of Gunfire in Kashmir: Kulgam Encounter in Akhal Forest Range Tests New Tactics

On 1 August, the eerie calm in South Kashmir’s Kulgam district was shattered when a fierce gunfight between a group of armed militants and security forces erupted in the woods. Less than a week before the sixth anniversary of the abrogation of Articles 370 and 35A, one of the longest encounters in recent times started in the Akhal forest range, resulting in the elimination of one militant—and gunshot injuries to at least three soldiers.A top police officer said the gunfight is likely to enter the sixth day as intense gunshots and blasts near the site continue unabated, even though intermittently. VK Birdhi, Inspector General of Police (Kashmir Range), confirmed to The Quint: “One terrorist namely Harris Nazir from Rajpora area in South Kashmir's Pulwama district has been killed so far. Another body has been spotted but has not yet been retrieved. The operation is still ongoing.”Top security sources said the cordon has been tightened to neutralise the remaining militants. They believe that at least five heavily armed militants are trapped. More security personnel have been rushed to the Akhal forest range.The contact with a group of armed militants was made possible due to “human intelligence” and local input, according to Birdhi. Police received a “tip off” about the presence of a group of at least five militants, prompting joint forces comprising the Indian Army’s 9 Rashtriya Rifles and J&K Police’s Special Operations Group (SOG) to launch a massive cordon and search operation in the woods. The holed-up militants, according to sources, opened indiscriminate fire on the cordon party. The fire was retaliated immediately, triggering off a deadly encounter.Known as Kashmir’s rice bowl, Kulgam has a population of over 5 lakh, and the vast majority relies on horticulture and agricultural produce. The district has allowed competing ideologies, including the now proscribed Jama’at-e-Islami (JeI) and the Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)], to flourish. Currently, Yusuf Tarigami of the CPI(M) is the MLA from Kulgam Assembly constituency.As per the established norm, security operations near the forested areas involve a lot of precaution.Usually, operation activities are halted during night hours but, as per sources, firing has continued even during nights in the case of the latest gunfight.Helicopters, drones, and night vision equipment have been pressed into service to minimise options for the trapped militants to escape the scene.Explained: Why Abrogation of Article 370 Has Failed to Bring 'Peace' in KashmirThe latest encounter is being conducted in a difficult forest terrain, posing logistical and operational challenges for government forces. As it gets dark in the woods, security forces usually tread with caution to minimise damage on their side. However, the strategy in the latest case appears to be a judicious mix of caution and aggression.Shesh Pal Vaid, former Director General of J&K Police, told The Quint that the difference between the armies of India and Pakistan is quite visible.“The Pakistan Army drops bombs, using aircraft against the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan and the Baloch militant group based in Balochistan. Our Army is one of the best armies in the world as we conduct encounters tactfully, not by burning houses or bombing terrorists.”Shesh Pal Vaid, former Director General of J&K PoliceThe ongoing Kulgam encounter comes a little over three months after the 22 April Pahalgam civilian massacre in the picturesque Baisaran Valley that left nearly two dozen tourists dead. Post-Pahalgam, the authorities have successfully conducted the Amarnath pilgrimage. As per data provided by the Jammu and Kashmir government, headed by the Lieutenant Governor, over 400,000 Hindu pilgrims have paid obeisance at the Amarnath cave located in the mountains of South Kashmir from the traditional Baltal and Pahalgam routes.In the aftermath of the Pahalgam attack, India launched Operation Sindoor in early May, leading to a three-day drone war between the two nuclear powers. Last week, Home Minister Amit Shah claimed during the Monsoon Session of the Parliament that the mastermind of the Pahalgam attack was killed in an encounter in the Harvan area of Kashmir. The slain militant was identified as Sulaiman Shah, purportedly a Pakistani national.More Militancy, Less Autonomy: Kashmir is Worse Off 6 Yrs After Losing StatehoodMeanwhile, as per sources, the three Army soldiers who sustained bullet wounds in the intense exchange of fire have been shifted to Indian Army’s 92 Base Hospital at Badami Bagh Cantonment in Srinagar. The condition of the wounded soldiers is said to be stable.Sources in the security establishment further told The Quint that the remaining militants, believed to be only two or three in number, are armed with sophisticated weapons.Initially, contact was established with a group of five militants. Without confirming it officially, sources revealed that they believe two militants have been eliminated; one is seriously wounded while the remaining two are not surrendering. These details, according to sources, have been confirmed through hi-tech drone surveillance.Officially though, the Indian Army’s Chinar Corps confirmed the killing of only one militant in a post on X. Sharing an update on Operation Akhal, Chinar Corps said: “Intermittent and intense firefight continued through the night. Alert troops responded with calibrated fire and tightened the noose while maintaining contact.”Post the abrogation of Articles 370 and 35A in August 2019, the militant groups active in the Valley have seemingly changed their strategy and tactical manoeuvre.The turf war appears to have shifted from the hinterland (Kashmir region) to the mountain peaks of the Pir Panjal Range (Poonch, Rajouri, and Reasi) and the Chenab Valley (Kishtwar, Bhaderwah, and Doda), as per defence sources. Over 60 Army personnel, including Special Para troopers, Major-ranked officers, and Junior Commissioned Officers, have lost their lives in surprise attacks carried out by battle-hardened militants in the Jammu province.The militant attacks have also taken place in Udhampur, Kathua, Samba, Reasi and other areas, some of which were declared “militancy free” before 2019. The new-age foreign militants—believed to be well trained in combat pose—renewed challenges for the security apparatus.The militants, who are highly trained Pakistani nationals, employ advanced technological devices while carrying out their operations. In these regions, militants have suffered fewer casualties compared to the Indian Army. As an MP, I Believe Faith Must Guide Politics in KashmirThe dense forests provide enough cover to militants, rendering it difficult for security forces to engage them effectively.Retired Lieutenant General DS Hooda confirmed to The Quint that these militants are “better trained”.“They have sophisticated and advanced weapons and are specifically trained by the Pakistani Army to hide in forested areas,” he added.At the same time, security forces have been carrying out non-stop anti-militancy operations in Jammu and Kashmir, leading to a big drop in the number of active militants. According to the police, there were around 250 militants active in the region by end of 2019, but that number has since come down to below 100. That said, the efficacy does not lie in numbers but training and tactic.“It depends on the area. If the encounter takes place in a small village or near civilian houses, it is much easier and faster (for government forces) to complete the encounter. But if it is in a forest, it obviously takes more time, as the militants take advantage of the dense forest cover like what we have witnessed in the last four years.”Retired Lieutenant General Hooda(The reporter is a Kashmir-based journalist.)The NC’s Post Article 370 Strategy of Simulated Dissent in Kashmir

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6 Days of Gunfire: Kulgam Encounter in Akhal Forest Range Tests New Tactics

Sources told The Quint that the remaining militants are armed with sophisticated weapons.

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