Team News Riveting
Srinagar, September 13
Security forces launched a massive operation that was put on a halt for night in the vast forest area of Gadool in Kokernag village of Anantnag district, a day after two Army officers and a police officer were killed during an ambush.
According to police officials, the security forces had established contact with the terrorists and had encircled them. The two LeT terrorists including Uzair Khan had been surrounded even as security forces had pressed drones and helicopters into the service to find the hiding terrorists.
Police said that the two terrorists encircled were involved in the killing of an army colonel, major and a Deputy Superintendent of Police of the Jammu and Kashmir police.
The joint team of Army and police had trekked 1 km inside the jungle after receiving an input about the presence of militants in the area. The militants involved in the fresh gunfight could be from the same group of militants spread from the Rajouri-Poonch axis in Jammu to south Kashmir, the officials said.
On Wednesday, three security personnel — a colonel commanding a battalion and a major, and a J&K DSP were killed in the gunfight with terrorists in the Kokorenag area while a soldier went missing.
Colonel Manpreet Singh, Commanding Officer of 19 Rashtriya Rifles, Major Ashish Dhonack, and DSP Humayun Bhat were critically injured in the gunfight with terrorists that ensued in Garol area of Anantnag district on Wednesday.
The officers succumbed to their injuries later, the officials said, adding that a jawan also died. The whereabouts of another soldier were not immediately known and it is feared he might have been seriously wounded.
“In solemn tribute to the unwavering valor of Col Manpreet Singh,Major Ashish Dhonak and DSP Humayun Bhat, who laid down their lives leading from the front during this ongoing operation. Our forces persist with unwavering resolve as they encircle 2 LET terrorists including Uzair Khan.” Police said in a post on ‘X’.