Srinagar: The massive search operation to track down terrorists involved in the firing on a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) party in south Kashmir’s Kulgam district continued for the fourth consecutive day on Saturday, with security forces intensifying searches across several villages and tightening security along the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway.
Director General of Police (DGP) J&K Nalin Prabhat visited multiple operational sites in Kulgam to review the security situation and assess the progress of the ongoing counter-terror operation following Wednesday’s attack that left three CRPF personnel injured.
During the visit, the DGP interacted with officers deployed on the ground, took stock of the search operations and directed them to strengthen the security grid and intensify counter-insurgency efforts to track down the attackers.
Officials said search teams have expanded their operations across nearly a dozen villages, with dog squads also deployed to assist in searches and detect possible traces of the terrorists. Security has been tightened along the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway and adjoining areas to prevent any suspicious movement.
Meanwhile, CRPF Director General Gyanendra Pratap Singh chaired an operational and security review conference at the force’s Group Centre in Srinagar to assess the prevailing security situation and operational preparedness across Kashmir.
The meeting was attended by Special DG (Operations) Vitul Kumar, Special DG J&K Zone Sandeep Khirwar, IG Operations Kashmir Sector Vineet Brijlal, IG Srinagar Sector Pawan Kumar Sharma, other senior officers and ground commanders of Valley-based CRPF units.
During the conference, the CRPF DG directed officers to intensify counter-insurgency operations across Kashmir, strengthen the security grid, improve real-time coordination among security forces and maintain heightened operational readiness to neutralise terrorist elements and dismantle their support networks.
The discussions also focused on strategies for sustained and intensified counter-insurgency operations across the region.
The CRPF DG also felicitated personnel involved in the successful execution of ‘Operation Ashdhar’ and ‘Operation Korag’ in Budgam during September 2026, in which two foreign-origin Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists were killed.
Appreciating the professionalism and courage displayed by the troops under challenging terrain conditions, Singh said intelligence-based operations had strengthened the security framework and reiterated the force’s commitment to maintaining peace and stability.
The latest security reviews come in the aftermath of Wednesday’s attack near NowporaAkhran in Kulgam, where terrorists opened fire on a CRPF security checkpoint, injuring three personnel. One of the injured personnel was airlifted to Srinagar for specialised medical treatment.
Since the attack, security forces have launched an extensive manhunt across the district. Around 500 suspected overground workers have reportedly been questioned as part of the investigation, while the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has also joined the probe and is collecting evidence from the attack site.
Security agencies are examining possible support networks and other leads to identify and track down those involved in the attack.
