Indian Army soldier killed in encounter with terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir's Sopore

While the nation slept, soldiers in Jammu and Kashmir's Sopore area engaged in a gun battle with terrorists. Tragically, an Indian Army soldier lost his life in the overnight encounter.

Officials told news agency PTI on Monday, “An Indian Army soldier was killed following an overnight encounter with terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir's Sopore area.” 

According to the report, the soldier sustained injuries during an exchange of fire with terrorists hiding in Zaloora Gujjarpati in the Sopore police district. Despite efforts to evacuate him from the scene, the soldier succumbed to his injuries.

On Sunday, security forces laid a cordon after encountering fire during a militant hideout crackdown. A tight vigil was maintained at Zaloora Gujjarpati throughout the night, and the search for suspected terrorists in the area intensified on Monday morning.

The Kashmir Police, Indian Army, and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) are jointly carrying out a search operation in Zaloora village, near Sopore district, to track down terrorists. This follows a security forces and police-led crackdown on militant hideouts, ANI reported. After gunshots were heard in the area of Zaloora, the Cordon and Search Operation (CASO) was launched.

“During a CASO launched by Police & SFs at Zaloora, Sopore, a hideout was busted. During the same, fire was observed from inside. Area cordoned off,” Kashmir Zone Police wrote in a post on X on Sunday.

Indian Army's Chinar Corps in a post on X stated, “On 19 Jan 25, based on specific intelligence input regarding presence of terrorists, a Joint Cordon & Search Operation was launched by #IndianArmy & @JmuKmrPolice at Gujjarpatti, Sopore, Baramulla.”

It added, “Suspicious activity was observed by vigilant troops and on being challenged, terrorists opened indiscriminate fire. Own troops effectively retaliated.”

Later, Chinar Corps announced that a soldier named Pangala Kartheek sacrificed his life while on duty. The post reads, “All Ranks of the Chinar Corps salute the supreme sacrifice of Braveheart Swr Pangala Kartheek, who laid down his life in the line of duty.”

(With agency inputs)