July 30, 2025 | Poonch, J&K : In a significant counter-terror operation, security forces in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch district gunned down two terrorists early this morning. This encounter comes just two days after Indian forces eliminated the three militants behind the brutal Pahalgam attack that claimed 26 innocent lives in April.

The Army's White Knight Corps first reported suspicious movement near the Line of Control in the Poonch sector. “Suspected movement of two individuals was observed by our troops along the fence in the general area of Poonch sector. Gunfire was exchanged. Operation under progress,” said a post on X (formerly Twitter).

Later, Jammu and Kashmir Director General of Police Nalin Prabhat confirmed to NDTV that two infiltrators, believed to be affiliated with the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) outfit, were shot dead in a fierce exchange of gunfire with Indian security forces.

This fresh encounter is being seen as part of a larger crackdown on terror networks in the Valley, especially following the successful conclusion of Operation Mahadev earlier this week, in which the three terrorists responsible for the April 22 Pahalgam massacre were killed near Srinagar.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah, speaking in Parliament on Monday during a debate on the broader counter-terror initiative termed Operation Sindoor, provided detailed insights into how the government confirmed the identities of the slain Pahalgam attackers.

The terrorists killed in Operation Mahadev were identified as Suleiman, Afghani, and Jibran. “They are the same killers who shot innocent people in cold blood at Baisaran Valley,” Shah told the House.

The Home Minister elaborated on the evidence trail that led to this confirmation. He stated that the National Investigation Agency (NIA) had previously arrested individuals who sheltered these terrorists. Once the three militants were neutralized, their bodies were brought to Srinagar, where those arrested identified them.

For forensic verification, Shah said the rifles seized from the encounter site—an M9 and two AK-47s—were flown to the Chandigarh Central Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL). "We generated empty bullet shells by firing these rifles and matched them with those recovered from the Pahalgam attack site," he said.

"The results were conclusive," Shah asserted. “I am holding the ballistic report in my hand. Six forensic scientists cross-checked it and confirmed via video call that the bullets matched perfectly. There is no room for doubt.”

The operations in Poonch and Srinagar mark a significant moment in India’s ongoing fight against cross-border terrorism. Security forces remain on high alert, especially along the Line of Control, as intelligence reports indicate continued infiltration attempts.

The twin operations—Mahadev and today’s Poonch encounter—signal not only swift retaliation but also increasing use of forensic precision to hold terrorists accountable.

As the region continues to grapple with the threat of militancy, today’s events reinforce the government’s resolve to pursue a zero-tolerance approach toward terrorism and its enablers.