Srinagar: Security forces are engaged in two ongoing encounters in north Kashmir, in the districts of Kupwara and Bandipora, resulting in the killings of two unidentified militants so far. Both gunfights erupted Tuesday evening as operations by security forces targeted suspected militant hideouts.
In Bandipora, the gunfight began in the Ketsun forest area after security forces, acting on intelligence, launched a cordon-and-search operation to track down suspected militants. A senior police official confirmed that one militant has been killed in this encounter, while another remains trapped. "The identity of the slain and the remaining militant is yet to be confirmed," the official stated. The operation is still underway in the area.
In neighbouring Kupwara, a joint operation by the Army and the Jammu and Kashmir Police took place overnight after receiving specific intelligence inputs. As forces zeroed in on a suspected location, a fierce exchange of gunfight ensued between the joint security team and militants in the area. One militant has been gunned down so far in the Kupwara operation, which is still underway.
These ongoing operations bring the total number of encounters in the Kashmir Valley to four in just four days. The latest uptick in militant activities comes amid heightened security concerns since the NC-Congress coalition government, led by Omar Abdullah, took office following Jammu and Kashmir's transition to a Union Territory after the abrogation of Article 370.
Earlier on November 2, three militants, including two locals and a Pakistani national known as Usman Bhai, were killed in two separate encounters in South Kashmir's Anantnag district and central Kashmir's Srinagar district. The Srinagar encounter also left four security personnel injured during the exchange of fire.
Army Beefs Up Security Along LoC
Following recent major militant attacks in Jammu and Kashmir, the Indian Army has strengthened security near the Line of Control (LOC) and International Border (IB), an official said. Additionally, artificial intelligence (AI)-based CCTV cameras are being installed in the Dera Ki Gali area of border district Rajouri, he added.
The region, which was a known militant route from 1990 to 2003, has seen renewed militant activity over the past three to four years, including attacks. The route, passing through Rajouri, leads to Poonch and then to the Kashmir Valley via Mughal Road, making it a strategic path for infiltration.
An official said that in collaboration with Jammu and Kashmir Police’s Special Operations Group and other security agencies, the Indian Army is working tirelessly to prevent militant infiltrations and thwart potential attacks. As part of the enhanced security measures, checkpoints have been set up in areas near the border where every vehicle and person is rigorously being checked. AI-based CCTV cameras are also being used for round-the-clock surveillance, the official added.
"These advanced cameras can instantly detect suspicious activities and recognize faces in real-time, making them far more effective than regular cameras. Additionally, dog squads assist in vehicle checks. Unlike ordinary cameras that merely record, AI-based cameras monitor in real time, identifying any suspicious movements or individuals immediately".
Defense officials said that this AI surveillance technology significantly enhances security around the border, helping the Indian Army and other security forces maintain a strong hold on the areas surrounding the LOC and IB, thereby bolstering security in Jammu and Kashmir.
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