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Kulgam Encounter: Inside the Guddar Forest Gunfight (September 2025 Incident)

A gray fog of tension hung over Kulgam as the Guddar forest came alive with the sharp rattle of gunfire. Security forces moved carefully through thick undergrowth after a tip-off about armed militants hiding nearby.

On September 8, 2025, the silence of the forest was shattered when troops challenged the militants, starting a fierce exchange that left one terrorist dead and a junior Army officer wounded. The raw courage of the soldiers stood out, even as danger remained and the fight pressed on.

This moment is just one piece in the larger story of risk and bravery that shapes daily life in Kashmir. Everyone here knows that a single call can mean life or death, but the commitment of those on the front lines never wavers.

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How the Kulgam Encounter Began

Every major encounter starts with a whisper: a brief message, a hushed warning, maybe a shadow spotted moving through the trees. In the Guddar forest on September 8, 2025, those whispers turned into a measured sprint. The air was heavy, the sense of anticipation running through every corded nerve of the security teams tasked with bringing peace back to this stretch of South Kashmir.

The Spark: Intelligence Alerts and a Region on Edge

It only takes one lead for the rhythm of daily life to crack. Just before the sunrise, intelligence units delivered clear warnings of militant presence deep inside the Guddar forest—a place known for thick canopies and hidden trails. The call was backed by fresh signals, followed by confirmation from sources who live and breathe the pulse of the valley.

Kulgam had already been on a hair-trigger. August had seen lengthy operations in nearby forests with heavy losses and high tension in the air. Security officials knew that even a simple patrol could become a matter of life and death. These alerts shaped the plans for a joint response and primed the forces for a showdown.

Key Points Leading Up to the Operation:

• Recent upsurge in militant activity and jungle warfare tactics.
• Advanced surveillance (including drones) had picked up unusual patterns.
• Daily drills and experience from previous operations shaped the tactical approach.
• Tight coordination among state and central agencies for immediate action.

Mobilization of Security Forces: Who Was Involved?

Responding to such credible intelligence is never a solo act. It’s a show of unity, preparation, and trust built over years. That morning, the Jammu and Kashmir Police, including its elite Special Operations Group (SOG), teamed up with the Indian Army and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF). Each group brought its own skillset and experience to the table.

• Jammu and Kashmir Police SOG: Local, fast, and deeply familiar with the forest and culture.
• Indian Army: Backbone for combat, with specialized jungle units and unflinching nerves.
• CRPF: Known for their quick reaction skills and handling tense civilian-militant standoffs.

These teams fanned out at the forest’s edge. Radios crackled with coded warnings, and boots pressed into the loamy soil as columns advanced. Before the first light turned the forest gold, the tension was already thick.

From Routine Search to Relentless Combat

The plan was as standard as the ground beneath them—a search and cordon operation. But the forest rarely follows a script. As the teams swept deeper into the green, scanning every shadow and listening for the smallest branch snap, a sudden burst shattered the early calm. Terrorists, hiding deep in the brush, fired the first shots.

Instantly, the quiet broke into chaos. The troops, used to the forest’s tricks, ducked into cover and responded in kind. What started as a controlled move became a firefight with lives on the line. A junior Army officer—a JCO—was caught in the first hail and went down. News spread up and down the line and adrenaline surged.

What changed in an instant:

• A silent forest became a battlefield.
• Every plan was pushed to the limit.
• Soldiers relied on training, instincts, and each other.

The encounter wasn’t just a gun battle, but a test of calm grit under pressure. As shots echoed off tree trunks and orders rang out, it was clear: the operation had shifted from routine to urgent.

For more on the initial moments and the quick response from the joint teams, you can read this report from The Hindu and get a full timeline as described in LiveMint’s coverage.

This wasn’t just a clash. It was the product of careful planning, shared risk, and the reality that any “routine” day in Kulgam can become one for the history books.

Tactics and Turn of Events in the Guddar Forest

The Guddar forest does not offer mercy or a clear line of sight. When the operation began, the forest was still damp with morning dew, branches dripping and the air cut only by the sound of boots and heavy breathing. What followed was a sequence of moments packed with choice and consequence. Each leaf and shadow could hide a threat. Forces had to move fast, plan every step, and expect the unexpected in terrain that felt almost alive.

Step-by-Step: How Security Forces Cordoned the Area

The forest edge became the staging ground. Using tight communication, the teams created a ring around the suspected zone. This “cordon” had to be both swift and silent, a blend of muscle memory and discipline built from years facing similar threats.

• Multiple teams split onto flanks, closing off escape routes.
• Troops made sure villagers stayed out of danger, warning them to shelter away from windows and roads.
• Senior officers watched maps and drone feeds at a forest outpost, ready to shift teams as needed.

Rain from the night before made every step slow. The ground sucked boots down into the mossy mud, and thorny vines snared anyone who missed a stride.

First Contact: The Opening Shots and Sudden Chaos

With the area secure, a search team pushed forward, eyes trained on the brush. It takes only a split second to go from tense silence to firefight. Soon, suspicious shapes darted between thick tree trunks. A clear warning was given, but it was met with a hail of gunfire.

• The initial burst echoed for miles, snapping twigs and sending birds flying.
• Troops dropped behind thick roots and rocks, returning fire with focus.
• Radio traffic spiked as every position gave live updates.

The confusion could have paralyzed less experienced fighters. In that instant, a Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO) at the front received a gunshot wound and went down. His squad moved fast, pulling him to safe cover and giving emergency first aid, making sure he stayed alive until medics could reach him.

For a detailed official timeline, see this Hindu report on the encounter.

The Terrain: Dense Growth, Hidden Caves, and Tactical Evasion

Guddar forest is not a straight fight. Caves hidden by moss and heaps of deadwood can obscure any movement. This is perfect terrain for militants trained in evasion.

• Tall conifers and wild undergrowth limit vision to only a few feet.
• Natural outcrops offer instant cover from drones and sharp eyes.
• Sudden gullies dip away beneath ferns, making it easy to cross lines unnoticed.

Security forces had to adapt. Drones tried scanning above, but dense canopy blocked most feeds. Teams used hand signals and low whispers to close in without alerting anyone hiding under the earth or behind split logs.

Turning the Tables: Returning Fire and Pinpointing the Threat

Once gunfire broke out, the soldiers locked into a tight formation. Using practiced roles, one group pinned down the militants while another moved around to cut off any escape.

The exchange was close and sharp. The soldiers pressed forward every time the gunfire paused. After minutes that felt like hours, the lead team spotted a militant shifting behind a tangled bush. They took their shot, still under heavy fire, and confirmed his fall a few seconds later. This immediate response proved crucial in stopping the attack from spreading deeper into the woods.

For further insights into the split-second combat and official figures, you can refer to Hindustan Times’ encounter update.

Casualties, Rescue, and Medical Response

As soon as it was possible, medics moved into the line of fire, stabilizing the wounded JCO and carrying him back to a clearing where a waiting ambulance whisked him to a nearby hospital. Quick action from his team likely saved his life.

A table can help break down the immediate results:

The soldier’s evacuation was fast, with choppers on standby in case a longer haul was needed. Meanwhile, search teams checked each pocket of the forest for stragglers.

The Ongoing Threat and Aftermath

Even with the main threat down, no one dropped their guard. Forest encounters require every sense tuned for possible traps, secondary groups, or even delayed explosive devices. Sweeps continued until higher command reported the zone as secure, but adrenaline kept teams on full alert.

For updates as the operation developed and a complete timeline, follow the latest coverage here and see first-hand video accounts like Inside Kulgam Encounter.

In Guddar’s dark and tangled wild, the lines between hunter and hunted shift every minute. This day, preparation, speed, and brotherhood won out against the unknown.