Army Hails ‘Big Success’ in Rafiabad Encounter with Elimination of Two Foreign Terrorists

In a press conference held at Pohrupet, Commander of the 7 Sector Rashtriya Rifles (RR), Depak, announced that continuous intelligence inputs had indicated the presence of terrorists in Sopore’s Rafiabad area. “On June 19, specific information from the J&K police revealed the presence of terrorists in a house at Hadipora, Rafiabad. Subsequently, the army, police, and CRPF launched a joint operation. Upon identifying the target house, two terrorists were eliminated in the encounter,” Commander Depak stated. He was accompanied by Deputy Inspector General of Police North Kashmir, Vivek Gupta, and other officials from the police and army.

The slain terrorists, identified as Usman and Umar, were affiliated with the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) outfit. “Usman has been active in Kashmir since 2020,” noted the army officer. A significant quantity of arms and ammunition was recovered from the site.

“The elimination of these terrorists is a substantial success for the security forces. Recent weeks have seen a high operational momentum, yielding positive results with the elimination of terrorists,” Depak added. “We continue to receive unwavering support from the local population.”

A statement from the army corroborated these details, highlighting the continuous flow of intelligence regarding terrorist movements in the Sopore-Rafiabad area of Baramulla District. “Based on specific intelligence from the JKP, two terrorists were located in a house in Hadipora village, Rafiabad. A joint operation was swiftly launched by the Indian Army, JKP, and CRPF, cordoning off the area. Civilians from adjacent houses were safely evacuated and the area was secured. During the search, the terrorists opened fire, leading to a firefight in which the two terrorists were neutralized,” the statement explained. The killed terrorists, Usman and Umar, were both of Pakistani origin and associated with LeT. Usman had been active in the Kashmir Valley since 2020. Significant quantities of weapons and ammunition were recovered post-operation.

The army emphasized that the elimination of these terrorists marks another major success. “In recent months, we have maintained a high operational tempo, achieving significant successes. This success is also due to the complete cooperation of the Kashmiri people. Security forces will continue their sustained efforts to maintain peace and stability in Kashmir,” the statement concluded. (KNO)