Anantnag encounter: Another soldier dies, hunt on for terrorists

Mangalore Today News Network

Anantnag, Sep 15, 2023: One more soldier succumbed to his injuries on Friday during an ongoing encounter in Jammu and Kashmir’s Anantnag district, raising the death toll to four since Wednesday. The area is cordoned off and a search operation is underway, an official said.

 

The encounter followed a gunfight that broke out between security forces and terrorists hiding in the Kokernag area in Anantnag on Wednesday. An Army Rashtriya Rifles unit Commanding Officer (Colonel), a Company Commander (Major), and a Jammu and Kashmir Police DSP were killed in the gunfight, even as the encounter continues.

Colonel Manpreet Singh, Major Ashish, and DSP Humayun Bhat are among the four officials killed. The identity of the fourth soldier who lost his life today has not yet been revealed.

The mortal remains of Colonel Manpreet Singh and Major Ashish Dhonchack were brought to their residences in Panipat on Friday morning. Deputy Superintendent Humayun Bhat was laid to rest on Thursday at his residence in Budgam. The Indian Army had airlifted the bodies to Srinagar on Thursday after the encounter. A homage was paid to their mortal remains on Thursday evening.

Officials said the army was leading the troops based on inputs from specific intelligence, searching for terrorists in a hideout when the gunfight broke out. The terrorists opened fire, killing the Colonel instantly and injuring two officials, who later died in a hospital in Srinagar.

The terrorists are believed to be from "The Resistance Front", a Lashkar proxy. Security forces suspect two-three terrorists are hiding in the area. Heron drones and quadcopters have been deployed in the area to carry out surveillance and assist in the search operation, officials said.

Anti-Pakistan protests broke out on Thursday in several parts of Jammu city against the killing of four security personnel. The Panun Kashmir and the Eik Sanatam Bharat Dal (ESBD) paid homage to the personnel and demanded a massive operation against the terrorist ecosystem in Jammu and Kashmir.

Courtesy: India Today