A 45-year-old civilian, identified as Gh Rasool Magray, was tragically shot dead by unknown gunmen near his home in the Kandikhas area of Jammu and Kashmir’s Kupwara district. According to reports, Magray received serious bullet injuries to his abdomen and left wrist. Despite being rushed to Handwara hospital for urgent medical treatment, he sadly succumbed to his injuries. Officials confirmed that the victim was known to be a social activist in the area, although the exact motive behind the shooting remains uncertain at this stage. Authorities have not ruled out any possibilities, including targeted violence.
Security forces, who have already been on a heightened state of alert following the devastating terror attack in Pahalgam on April 22 that left 26 civilians dead, immediately rushed to the site upon receiving information about the shooting. A search operation has been launched in the surrounding areas to trace the assailants. The killing has further intensified the sense of insecurity in the region, where tensions have been mounting due to the renewed wave of violence.
The incident in Kupwara comes amidst a string of terror-related activities reported recently across Jammu and Kashmir. On Friday, a fierce encounter broke out in the Guddar forest area of Kulgam district in South Kashmir. Acting on specific intelligence inputs about the presence of terrorists in the forested region, security forces launched a coordinated operation. Two militants are believed to be trapped, and the operation is still ongoing as forces try to neutralize the threat.
Meanwhile, on Thursday, in a separate security development, three terror associates linked to the Pakistan-based terrorist outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) were apprehended at a checkpoint in the Garoora Hajin area of Bandipora district. Security personnel recovered a cache of arms and explosives from them, including a Chinese-made pistol, two magazines, several live rounds, and hand grenades. Their arrest is seen as a major success in the ongoing counterterrorism efforts aimed at disrupting militant networks in the valley.
The situation in Jammu and Kashmir remains highly sensitive, with multiple counter-insurgency operations currently underway across different parts of the Union Territory. The authorities have urged residents to stay vigilant and cooperate with security forces as they continue their efforts to restore peace and prevent further bloodshed.
