Fresh firing in Anantnag as Army resumed operation against terrorists

Indian Army and Jammu and Kashmir Police Thursday resumed the operation against the terrorists in the Kokernag area of the Anantnag district. Security forces encircled two Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists holed up in a building in Jammu and Kashmir’s Anantnag where three security officers were killed in an encounter a day earlier, said police. “Our forces persist with unwavering resolve as they encircle two LeT terrorists,” said Jammu and Kashmir Police. According to media reports, citing army sources, these terrorists have been entering the Valley via Nepal and their objective is to promote terror. The encounter has already claimed the lives of three army personnel, including a Colonel commanding a battalion, a Major and a Deputy Superintendent of Jammu and Kashmir Police while one soldier was missing. Colonel Manpreet Singh, Commanding Officer of 19 Rashtriya Rifles, Major Ashish Dhonack, and Deputy Superintendent Humayun Bhat were critically injured in the gunfight with terrorists that ensued in the Garol area of Anantnag district in the morning hours of Wednesday. The officers succumbed to their injuries during the treatment, officials said, adding a jawan also died. The whereabouts of another soldier were not immediately known and it is feared he might have been seriously wounded. DGP Dilbag Singh condoled the death of the braveheart officers of the police and army. In a message, he said every loss of life is unfortunate and asserted that the perpetrators of the crime would be brought to justice soon. He extended his sympathies to the bereaved families.