Srinagar, — Three unidentified terrorists were gunned down by security forces in a fierce encounter in the upper reaches of Lidwas Mulnaar forests, located in the Harwan area on the outskirts of Srinagar city in central Kashmir.The gunfight erupted during a joint anti-terror operation launched by the Indian Army and Jammu & Kashmir Police under Operation Mahadev. Acting on specific intelligence inputs about the presence of terrorists in the dense forest area, security personnel cordoned off the region. As the forces moved in, they came under fire, triggering a heavy exchange of gunfire that lasted several hours.Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kashmir, V. K. Birdi, confirmed the elimination of three terrorists and stated that efforts are currently underway to ascertain their identities and affiliations. “The operation was carried out with precision. All three terrorists were neutralized during the encounter. We are verifying their identities and their possible links with any terror outfits,” he told reporters.The Army’s Chinar Corps also posted an update on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), stating: “Under Operation Mahadev, three terrorists have been neutralized in the Lidwas forest area of Harwan, Srinagar outskirts. A search operation is ongoing.”This encounter is significant as it marks a rare terrorist engagement in the forests near Srinagar, an area that has remained relatively peaceful compared to other districts in the Kashmir Valley in recent months.Security forces have intensified counter-insurgency operations in the region, particularly in the run-up to the upcoming Independence Day celebrations. Top officials have reiterated their commitment to maintaining peace and thwarting any attempts by terror groups to disturb normalcy in the region.
