A day after a brief exchange of fire in the forests of Yusmarg in central Kashmir, an unidentified terrorist has been killed in a joint operation by the Army and Police.

While security forces believe 1-2 terrorists are still trapped in the area, the combing operation has been extended into the dense forests.

“Based on specific intelligence input, a joint search operation was launched by [the] Indian Army, Jammu and Kashmir Police and the central reserve police force (CRPF) in [the] general area Ashdar Gali, Budgam,” the Army’s Srinagar-based Chinar Corps said. “Vigilant troops observed suspicious activity, and upon being challenged, terrorists opened fire, prompting a fierce exchange of gunfire during which One terrorist neutralised and one AK rifle and other war-like stores recovered.”

This comes after a shootout between terrorists and security forces in the forested area of Ashdar Gali in central Kashmir’s Budgam on Thursday. Ashdar Gali lies above the famous Yusmarg tourist resort and connects Kashmir Valley’s Budgam to Poonch in Jammu region. The area has thick forests and borders the districts of Budgam and Poonch.

After the exchange of fire, the joint team tightened the cordon and launched a combing operation. During intensified searches, the forces again came into contact with the terrorists, who opened fire while trying to break the security cordon.

The joint team returned fire, officials said, adding that intelligence inputs point to the presence of 1-2 more terrorists in the forests, prompting intensified searches.

This is only the second gunfight between security forces and terrorists in the Valley this year.

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On July 8, Zakir Ahmad Ganai, a Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) terrorist, was killed in a gunfight in south Kashmir’s Shopian. According to police records, Zakir was one of only two active terrorists in the Valley.