Operation Pimple in J&K: Indian Army Foils Infiltration Attempt, Kills Two Militants in Kupwara

Kupwara, Jammu & Kashmir: The Indian Army has thwarted an infiltration attempt along the Line of Control (LoC) in the Keran area of Kupwara district, killing two militants during an ongoing counter-infiltration mission, codenamed Operation Pimple. The operation was launched based on specific intelligence inputs about possible cross-border movement of terrorists.

The Army’s Chinar Corps confirmed the development on X (formerly Twitter), stating that contact was established with the infiltrators after alert troops noticed suspicious movement near the LoC. The militants were subsequently engaged and neutralized during the exchange of fire.

“Suspicious movement was noticed by alert troops, who challenged the infiltrators. They opened fire indiscriminately. Contact was established, and the terrorists were trapped,” the Chinar Corps posted on Friday.

Search Operations Continue in the Area

The Army has cordoned off the area, and search operations are still underway to ensure no other infiltrators remain hidden in the forested terrain. Officials have not yet confirmed the identities or affiliations of the two slain militants.

The infiltration attempt is believed to have been supported by handlers across the border, as Pakistan-based groups continue to push militants into Indian territory ahead of winter, when heavy snowfall makes cross-border movement nearly impossible.

Second Encounter in a Week

This incident comes just three days after an encounter in the Chhatru area of Kishtwar district, where security forces engaged with militants hiding in rugged mountainous terrain. Acting on specific intelligence, joint teams from the Indian Army’s White Knight Corps and the Jammu and Kashmir Police launched Operation Chhatru, leading to a fierce exchange of fire. Authorities suspect that two to three terrorists were present in the region at the time.

Army Reviews Winter Preparedness

Meanwhile, according to news agency PTI, Lt Gen Manoj Kumar Katiyar, the Army’s Western Commander, reviewed the operational readiness of troops deployed along the Jammu-Pathankot sector on Friday. The inspection aimed to ensure the Army’s preparedness to tackle infiltration and militant threats during the upcoming winter months.

With temperatures expected to plummet and snow blocking traditional infiltration routes, the Army is strengthening its counter-terror grid across northern Jammu and Kashmir to prevent fresh attempts by militant groups to exploit the terrain before the season’s first snowfall.

Operation Pimple underscores the Army’s commitment to maintaining heightened vigilance along the LoC, especially as security agencies warn of a possible uptick in infiltration attempts ahead of winter.