Kulgam anti-terror operation: DGP Nalin Prabhat visits site after CRPF attack
Synopsis
Days after terrorists attacked CRPF personnel and killed two SPOs in Kulgam, J&K, the DGP himself is on the ground overseeing a joint Army-Police-CRPF operation. The direct top-command presence signals how seriously the security establishment is treating a cluster of attacks that struck within 24 hours of each other — and BJP leaders are already demanding answers over the deployment decisions that left the SPOs dangerously under-armed.
Key Takeaways
A joint CASO is underway at Mir Bazar, Kulgam on 15 November 2026 , involving J&K Police , the Army , and CRPF .
DGP Nalin Prabhat and IGP (Kashmir Zone) Sujit Kumar are personally present at the operation site.
The operation follows a November 11 attack in which terrorists injured three CRPF personnel near Akhran, Kulgam .
Within 24 hours of the CRPF attack, two SPOs — Babi Chand and Yashpal Kumar — were killed in the same district.
LoP Sunil Sharma (BJP) has demanded restoration of the 40-person Kyra Dachan picket and the SOG picket at Gujjar Kotha , criticising the under-armed deployment of the slain SPOs.
A focused joint cordon and search operation (CASO) is underway in Jammu and Kashmir's Kulgam district on Sunday, 15 November 2026, with Director General of Police (DGP) Nalin Prabhat and Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kashmir Zone Sujit Kumar personally monitoring the operation from the ground, officials said. The security sweep follows a November 11 terrorist attack in which two gunmen fired upon and injured three Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel in the Akhran area near Mir Bazar in Kulgam.
Operation Details and Deployment
The joint operation at Mir Bazar in south Kashmir's Kulgam district is being conducted by Jammu and Kashmir Police, the Indian Army, and the CRPF. Senior officers, including DGP Prabhat and IGP Kumar, are present at the site to oversee the search effort directly. Special nakas and barricades have been erected at multiple locations across Kulgam and adjacent districts to cut off escape routes for the perpetrators.
SPO Killings Deepen the Security Crisis
Within less than 24 hours of the November 11 CRPF attack, terrorists killed two Special Police Officers (SPOs) — identified as Babi Chand and Yashpal Kumar — in a hilly area of the district. The two SPOs were reportedly on their way to an Army picket when they were ambushed. The back-to-back attacks have significantly raised security concerns across the southern Kashmir region.
Political Reaction and Accountability Demands
Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and Jammu and Kashmir Leader of Opposition Sunil Sharma, along with Kishtwar BJP MLA Shagun Parihar, visited the families of the slain SPOs on Saturday. Both leaders were sharply critical of the police officers who reportedly ordered the two SPOs to proceed into a remote, high-risk area carrying only one .303 rifle and one INSAS rifle — despite known terrorist activity in the zone.
LoP Sharma has demanded the immediate restoration of the 40-person security picket at Kyra Dachan and the reinstatement of the SOG picket at Gujjar Kotha in the remote area, arguing their absence left security personnel dangerously exposed.
Broader Security Context
The November 11 attack is part of a pattern of renewed militant activity in south Kashmir that security agencies have been tracking through intensified operations across Kulgam and neighbouring districts. The direct presence of the DGP at the operation site underscores the seriousness with which the administration is treating the current threat environment. All eyes will now be on whether the ongoing CASO yields contact with the perpetrators.
Point of View
Then on two SPOs within 24 hours — have rattled the security establishment in a way that routine press releases do not capture. The BJP opposition's criticism cuts deeper than politics: sending SPOs into a known terrorist-active zone with a single .303 and an INSAS rifle is an operational failure that demands institutional accountability, not just political condemnation. The demand for the Kyra Dachan picket restoration points to a pattern of picket drawdowns across south Kashmir that security analysts have flagged as creating tactical gaps. How the CASO resolves — and whether command-level accountability follows — will set the tone for security governance in the valley through the winter.
NationPress
15 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Kulgam anti-terror operation on 15 November 2026?
It is a joint cordon and search operation (CASO) launched by J&K Police, the Army, and CRPF at Mir Bazar in Kulgam district on 15 November 2026. The operation targets the terrorists responsible for a November 11 attack on CRPF personnel and the subsequent killing of two SPOs.
Who are DGP Nalin Prabhat and IGP Sujit Kumar, and why are they at the site?
Nalin Prabhat is the Director General of Police of Jammu and Kashmir, and Sujit Kumar is the Inspector General of Police for the Kashmir Zone. Their personal presence at the operation site signals the high priority the administration has placed on neutralising the perpetrators of the recent Kulgam attacks.
Who were the two SPOs killed in Kulgam after the November 11 attack?
The two Special Police Officers killed were Babi Chand and Yashpal Kumar. They were reportedly on their way to an Army picket in a hilly area of Kulgam when they were killed — within 24 hours of the initial CRPF attack on November 11.
What demands has the BJP opposition made following the Kulgam attacks?
Leader of Opposition Sunil Sharma has demanded immediate restoration of the 40-person security picket at Kyra Dachan and the SOG picket at Gujjar Kotha. He and MLA Shagun Parihar have also criticised the officers who ordered the two SPOs into a high-risk area with minimal weaponry.
What is the security situation in south Kashmir following these attacks?
Security forces have launched massive operations across Kulgam and adjacent districts since November 11, erecting special nakas and barricades at multiple locations. The cluster of attacks within a short window has heightened the overall threat assessment for south Kashmir.
