Srinagar/IBNS: The security forces have ramped up the search operation after a para commando was killed and three soldiers were injured in an encounter with militants, media reports said.

The para commando was killed in an encounter in the dense forest of Keshwan in the Kishtwar district.

The search operation was launched after two Village Defence Guards (VDGs) were kidnapped and killed by terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir's Kishtwar district last Thursday.

Kashmir Tigers, an offshoot of Pakistan-based terror group Jaish-e-Mohammad, claimed responsibility for the killing of the two VDGs.

The terror group also shared pictures of the two victims - Nazir Ahmed and Kuldeep Kumar - blindfolded.

As per reports, Nazir and Kuldeep went to graze their cattle in the forest from where they were kidnapped.

Reacting to the incident, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had posted on X, "Deeply saddened & concerned by the attack that resulted in the deaths of Kuldeep Kumar & Nazeer Ahmed Padder of Kuntwara in Kishtwar, members of the local village defence committee. The terrorists killed two innocent men who had taken their livestock to graze.

"I condemn this attack unequivocally & send my condolences to the families. At the same time I expect the security forces to move quickly to plug any gaps in our counter-terror grid & ensure that attacks like this stop completely."