One of the two civilians injured in an encounterbetween security forces and terrorists yesterday in Ahlan Kokernag died today,taking the death toll to three, officials said today.

The gunfight erupted in the afternoon as security forces were conducting ananti-terror operation in the dense forests of Ahlan Gadole, a remote area inthe Kokernag area.

According to the Police, the operation was launchedfollowing credible intelligence inputs about the presence of terrorists in thearea.

As the security forces advanced into the forested terrain, the terroristsopened fire, leading to a fierce exchange of gunfire.

During the exchange, two soldierswere critically injured.

The injured soldiers wereimmediately shifted to a medical facility where they succumbed to theirgrievous injuries.

“It had been earlierconfirmed through Human and Electronic means on 05 August 2024 terroristsresponsible for atrocities and incidents in the Doda region in the month ofJuly 24, had sneaked across the Kishtwar range into the Kapran Garol area inSouth Kashmir,” said the Srinagar-based defence spokesman, in a statement.

He said that Rashtriya Rifles andJ&K Police have ever since relentlessly tracked these terrorists andprecise operations were launched on the night of 09 & 10 Aug 2024 in thearea East of Kapran, in the mountains, where these terrorists were reportedlyholed up.

“Suspicious movement was observedat approximately 1400 hours on 10 August, on challenging, was immediatelyresponded to by indiscriminate, desperate and reckless firing from terroristsin which two Army personnel and two civilians, in the vicinity were injured,”said the spokesman.

He said the terror antecedents ofthe injured civilians were being ascertained.

“The area is above 10000 feet inhigh altitude, has thick under growth, large boulders, Nallahs and re-entrantsthat poses a serious challenge to operations. Security forces are movingdeliberately and are in the process of hunting down the terrorists. Operationswill progress through the night,” he added.