In a major success for Indian security forces, two heavily armed terrorists were gunned down in an intense encounter that erupted in the Poonch sector of Jammu and Kashmir early Wednesday morning. The operation, codenamed Operation Shivshakti, was launched following credible intelligence inputs suggesting that terrorists were attempting to infiltrate across the Line of Control (LoC) into Indian territory.

Acting swiftly on the inputs, troops of the Indian Army, in coordination with the Jammu and Kashmir Police, cordoned off the suspected area and engaged the infiltrators. The Indian Army’s elite White Knight Corps confirmed the neutralisation of the terrorists, stating that their attempt to breach Indian defences was foiled through "swift action and accurate firepower".

"#OPERATION SHIVSHAKTI In a successful anti-infiltration operation, alert troops of the #IndianArmy eliminated two terrorists attempting to infiltrate across the Line of Control. Swift action and accurate firepower thwarted the nefarious designs. Three weapons have been recovered," the White Knight Corps posted on social media. The statement also highlighted the "synergistic and synchronised intelligence inputs" from both military and police intelligence units that made the operation a success.

A thorough combing operation is currently underway in the region to ensure no other threat remains, and to recover any material or weapons left behind. The identities of the slain terrorists are being ascertained.

This encounter comes just two days after the Indian security forces successfully concluded Operation Mahadev, in which the three terrorists involved in the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack were killed. Speaking in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday during a debate on Operation Sindoor, Union Home Minister Amit Shah informed Parliament about the joint operation carried out by the Indian Army, CRPF and Jammu & Kashmir Police.

"In Operation Mahadev, Suleman alias Faisal Jatt or Hashim Musa, Afghan, and Jibran, these three terrorists were killed in a joint operation of the Indian Army, CRPF and J&K Police. Suleman was an A-category commander of Lashkar-e-Taiba. Afghan was also an A-category Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorist, and Jibran too was an A-grade terrorist. All three were involved in the brutal attack that killed civilians in Baisaran valley," Shah said.

The operation was reportedly launched on May 22, following meticulous tracking and intelligence gathering. The successful conclusion of both Operation Mahadev and Operation Shivshakti within a span of days reflects the high level of preparedness, coordination, and resolve of Indian security forces in preventing cross-border terrorism and safeguarding the sovereignty of the nation.