Three Indian soldiers succumbed to their injuries after being shot during a gunfight with terrorists in Kulgam in the Union Territory (UT) of Jammu and Kashmir, the Army said in a statement on Saturday.
According to a statement made by the Indian Army’s Srinagar-based 15 Corp, the operation to hunt down the terrorists was ongoing, with reinforcements having been sent to the area.
The encounter started on Friday evening after the security forces received inputs about the presence of terrorists in the “higher reaches” of the region, the statement said.
According to a media report, the terrorists opened fire at the “joint search party” comprised of officials from Jammu and Kashmir Police and the Army.
India Today reported that a terrorist “snatched” Kalashnikov rifles from the wounded Army personnel before the troops were evacuated for medical treatment.
Successive Indian governments have accused Pakistan of supporting cross-border terrorism in the Jammu and Kashmir region, a charge denied by Islamabad.
Parts of Jammu and Kashmir region are controlled by India and Pakistan. New Delhi claims the entire region is part of India and has repeatedly urged Islamabad to end its "illegal occupation" of the region.