Attack near Akhran, Mir Bazar, triggers security operation across South Kashmir; one jawan sustains serious injuries, while investigators examine CCTV footage to identify the attackers
By: News Desk | 11 November 2026
KULGAM: Three personnel of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) were injured after motorcycle-borne gunmen opened fire on a security checkpoint in South Kashmir’s Kulgam district on Wednesday afternoon, November 11. The attack took place near Akhran in the Mir Bazar area, prompting an immediate security response and a search operation to trace the assailants.
According to the CRPF, the firing occurred at approximately 2:15 pm, when unidentified attackers targeted personnel deployed at a naka (security checkpoint) before fleeing the scene. The injured personnel were initially taken to a medical facility in neighbouring Anantnag district for treatment.
The incident has renewed security concerns in South Kashmir, where security agencies are continuing efforts to identify suspected militants and prevent further attacks on security personnel.
Three CRPF personnel injured
The injured personnel were identified in subsequent reports as Head Constable Somveer Singh and Constables Rakesh Dass and Santosh Chandru. They were serving with the CRPF’s 46th Battalion, according to local reporting.
The injuries varied in severity. Reports said Rakesh Dass sustained a bullet injury to his leg, Somveer Singh was wounded in his arm, while Santosh Chandru suffered more serious injuries to his abdomen and spine.
Chandru was subsequently referred for advanced medical treatment in Srinagar. Later reports said all three personnel were out of danger, although the more seriously injured jawan required specialised care.
The CRPF confirmed the injuries and said that operations had been initiated to apprehend those responsible.
Attackers escape after firing
Initial accounts indicate that the assailants arrived on a motorcycle, opened fire at the CRPF deployment and escaped before security forces could apprehend them.
The attack took place near Akhran, close to Mir Bazar, in an area where CRPF personnel were deployed for security duties. The attackers’ escape triggered an immediate response from security agencies.
Police, CRPF and other security personnel reached the area, established a cordon and initiated searches in adjoining localities. Teams were also tasked with examining possible escape routes and gathering evidence from the scene.
Investigators are examining CCTV footage and other available evidence to establish the sequence of events and identify those involved.
Security operation launched across the area
Following the firing, security forces intensified search and checking operations in Kulgam and adjoining areas of South Kashmir.
The investigation is focused on identifying the attackers, establishing how they approached the checkpoint and tracing their movements after the incident. Security agencies are also examining whether the assailants received any assistance.
Some media reports have cited intelligence inputs suggesting a possible connection with militants associated with Lashkar-e-Taiba and its offshoot, The Resistance Front. However, the identity and organisational affiliation of the attackers had not been officially confirmed in the reports available at the time of publication.
No responsibility for the attack had been publicly established.
What investigators are examining
The use of a motorcycle allowed the attackers to approach the deployment and flee quickly. Investigators are expected to examine CCTV footage from the surrounding area, physical evidence recovered from the site and information gathered during the search operation.
The central questions are who carried out the attack, whether the assailants were operating independently or as part of a larger network, and how they managed to escape.
Until investigators establish these details, claims about the attackers’ identities, nationality or links to a particular organisation should be treated as unverified.
Renewed security concerns in South Kashmir
The attack comes amid continuing security operations against militant networks in the Kashmir Valley. Kulgam and neighbouring districts have remained an important focus of counter-insurgency activity, including searches for suspected militants and their support networks.
An attack on a checkpoint also raises operational questions about the vulnerability of security deployments, particularly at locations where personnel are stationed along roads and other strategic points.
However, the circumstances of this incident will need to be established through the ongoing investigation before conclusions can be drawn about any specific security lapse.
For residents, the immediate concern is the heightened security presence and the possibility of restrictions or intensified checking as forces continue their search.
Investigation underway
Security agencies are continuing efforts to track down the attackers. The examination of CCTV footage, evidence from the scene and information collected during the search operation will be important in determining how the attack was planned and executed.
The incident has left three CRPF personnel injured and placed security forces on alert in Kulgam. The next significant developments will be the identification of the assailants, confirmation of any militant links and the outcome of the ongoing operation.
For now, the confirmed facts remain that motorcycle-borne assailants opened fire on a CRPF checkpoint near Akhran in Kulgam on November 11, injured three personnel and escaped. The investigation is continuing.
