Two terrorists were killed by Indian security forces during an ongoing anti-infiltration operation in the Keran sector of Kupwara district, Jammu and Kashmir, the Army confirmed on Friday. The operation, codenamed Operation Pimple, was launched to intercept armed militants attempting to cross the Line of Control (LoC) into Indian territory.
According to the Chinar Corps, the operation began on November 7 after intelligence agencies provided specific inputs indicating suspicious movement along the LoC. Acting swiftly, troops deployed in the area intensified surveillance and observed the infiltrators trying to exploit the rugged terrain and dense forests to cross over.
“Alert troops spotted suspicious movement and challenged the individuals, who responded with indiscriminate fire. A firefight ensued, resulting in the elimination of two terrorists,” the Chinar Corps posted on X. The statement added that search operations are continuing in the area to ensure no other infiltrators remain hidden and to recover weapons or war-like stores.
The encounter site lies within a heavily forested zone of the Keran sector, a frequent infiltration route used by militants from across the border due to its proximity to Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and difficult topography. The Army said the terrorists were “well-armed and equipped,” suggesting their intent to conduct attacks deeper in the valley once they entered Indian territory.
This encounter comes just days after another major gunfight in the Chhatru area of Kishtwar district, where security forces engaged a group of terrorists following intelligence about their presence in the remote mountainous region. In that operation, launched jointly by the Indian Army’s White Knight Corps and Jammu and Kashmir Police, two to three terrorists were suspected to be hiding in dense forest cover.
Meanwhile, in a related development, Army Western Command chief Lt Gen Manoj Kumar Katiyar reviewed the operational preparedness of forward-deployed troops in the Jammu-Pathankot sector on Friday. The review comes as the security establishment strengthens winter deployment along infiltration-prone areas, where snow and low visibility often create challenges for counter-insurgency operations.
Officials stated that Operation Pimple is part of a broader preemptive strategy to thwart cross-border infiltration attempts ahead of winter, when terrorists often make last-ditch efforts to enter the Valley before heavy snowfall seals off the mountain passes.
The Army reiterated its commitment to maintaining zero tolerance for terrorism and ensuring that infiltration attempts are neutralised at the LoC itself. Further identification of the slain terrorists and recovery of arms and ammunition are underway, officials said.
