The Wire Staff 
New Delhi: Security forces intensified their anti-militancy efforts in north Kashmir, launching two major operations in the Bandipora and Kupwara districts. One militant has been confirmed killed, while additional militants remain trapped as operations continue.
According to an Army spokesperson, security personnel engaged in a fierce firefight with militants hiding in the Kaitsan forest area of Bandipora on the afternoon of November 4. In this ongoing operation, one militant has been killed so far.
In a parallel operation in the Lolab area of Kupwara, security forces established contact with another group of militants. Based on specific intelligence inputs about their presence, a joint team launched the operation on November 5 in Margi, Lolab. Following the initial contact, an exchange of gunfire ensued.
These latest operations are part of intensified efforts against militancy in Jammu and Kashmir. Since October 28, security forces have killed six militants across three operations in the region.
A grenade blast had injured at least a dozen civilians on November 3 near the busy Tourism Reception Centre (TRC) in Srinagar, a day after security forces killed a suspected foreign militant in the city. The explosion occurred around 2:15 pm as unknown attackers hurled a grenade at a crowded marketplace, targeting civilians.
The TRC attack was the sixth such incident targeting civilians since the newly elected government in Jammu and Kashmir, led by chief minister Omar Abdullah, took office. In response, security forces launched a search operation in the area.
In another incident on Saturday (November 3), three suspected militants were killed in Anantnag district and Srinagar amid anti-militancy operations. Security officials identified one of the militants as Usman Bhai, a Lashkar-e-Taiba commander believed to be responsible for multiple attacks on civilians and security personnel.
The J&K police, in collaboration with the army, ramped up efforts across the region, including an operation in Bandipora’s forests following an attack on army personnel by suspected militants. Though no casualties were reported, officials recovered two bags suspected to belong to militants.
Security forces have been deployed heavily across central, south, and north Kashmir in response to what officials describe as a “widespread militant presence.”