An Indian Army soldier was martyred during an encounter against terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir’s Anantnag on Friday (Sept 15), as the situation remained tense for the third consecutive day.
Two Army officers – a Colonel and Major – and a senior police officer were killed in the gunbattle with terrorists on Wednesday.
The joint security operation by the army, the police, and the paramilitary force, CRPF, that began on Wednesday had already seen three casualties. No deaths from the terrorist side have been confirmed so far.
The officers —Colonel Manpreet Singh and Major Ashish Dhonack of Indian Army’s Rashtriya Rifles and Deputy Superintendent of Police Muhammad Hamayun Muzamil Bhat of the Jammu and Kashmir Police —are believed to have been martyred by Pakistan-backed Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists.
The encounter followed a combing operation that began on the intervening night of Sept 12 and 13, where the combat forces cornered some terrorists in Garol village, officials said.
The Indian Army and the police are using modern equipment like drones and other high-tech gadgets to conduct the operation.
Fresh blasts and heavy firing were heard from the forest area on Friday morning, and continued into the afternoon as the search operation is underway.
Security forces also destroyed two terrorist hideouts during the operation. They also recovered one AK 47 rifle, ammunition, food and utensils from these hideouts.
On hunt for LeT terrorists
During an extensive search, the security forces encircled two Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists in the higher reaches of the Anantnag district of south Kashmir.
Officials said that the terrorists were believed to be hiding in a natural cave in the mountains.
On Thursday, Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and Army’s XV Corps commander Lt Gen Rajiv Ghai paid homage to Colonel Singh and Major Dhonchak and laid wreaths on the coffins carrying the mortal remains of the two slain officers at the Badamibagh cantonment in Srinagar.
Anti-Pak protests
The deaths of three soldiers sparked a fresh wave of anti-Pakistan protests across Jammu and Kashmir, with scores of BJP workers seeking action against Pakistan for aiding and abetting terrorism in J&K.
They raised slogans against Pakistan and burnt posters of the country’s flags. “Pakistan is rattled by the popularity of Bharat (India) after the success of the G20 Summit. That is why they are trying to disturb peace in J&K. They want to create trouble in the region,” the president of BJP youth wing’s Jammu and Kashmir unit, Arun Prabhat, told reporters here.
He urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to deal with the source of terrorism across the border sternly.
(With inputs from agencies)
