In a decisive anti-terror operation in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kulgam district, security forces neutralized two terrorists on Saturday, August 2, 2025, as part of Operation Akhal. The operation, launched on Friday evening in the Akhal forest area of Devsar, followed intelligence reports of terrorist activity. A joint team comprising the Indian Army, Jammu and Kashmir Police’s Special Operations Group (SOG), and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) initiated a cordon and search mission, which escalated into a fierce gunfight after the terrorists opened fire.
The encounter began on Friday night and continued intermittently through the early hours of Saturday. By morning, two terrorists, reportedly local militants who joined terror ranks two years ago and classified as Category-C by security agencies, were killed. The Kashmir Zone Police announced the operation’s start on X, stating that the SOG, Army, and CRPF were actively engaged. The Indian Army’s Chinar Corps later confirmed on X that two terrorists had been neutralized, with the operation still underway to address any remaining threats. One soldier sustained injuries during the firefight but is reported to be stable after receiving medical treatment.
Operation Akhal marks the third significant counter-terrorism effort in Jammu and Kashmir within a week, following Operation Shivshakti in Poonch, where two infiltrators were killed, and Operation Mahadev in Srinagar’s Lidwas forest, which eliminated three Pakistani terrorists linked to the April 22, 2025, Pahalgam attack that claimed 26 lives. Authorities suspect one or two additional terrorists may still be hiding in the Akhal forest, and efforts to locate them continue. The identities of the slain militants are being verified, with further details expected to emerge by Sunday.
This ongoing operation underscores the Indian security forces’ commitment to curbing terrorism in the region, particularly in response to the devastating Pahalgam attack, which was claimed by The Resistance Front (TRF), an offshoot of the banned Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). The intensified operations reflect a broader strategy to dismantle terror networks and prevent further attacks in Jammu and Kashmir.