Srinagar. Two army personnel were martyred and a civilian was killed while five others were injured in a fierce encounter with terrorists in a forest in Anantnag district of South Kashmir on Saturday, officials said. Officials said that the operation to search for terrorists continued despite challenging geographical conditions.
He said the encounter started when a cordon and search operation was launched after receiving information about the presence of militants in the remote Ahlan Gagarmandu forest. Officials said two civilians were also injured in the firing.
He said that the encounter started when a group of terrorists opened fire on the joint search team. The team included army personnel including para commandos and local police personnel. Officials said that six army personnel and two civilians were injured in the encounter. Officials said that the injured soldiers were immediately taken to the nearby hospital, where two soldiers were declared dead.
He said that the remaining injured personnel and civilians are being treated. Officials said that additional forces have been deployed in the area and the operation to locate and kill the terrorists is continuing till the last information was received. This encounter brought back the sad memories of the encounter that took place after a similar firing in Kokernag in September last year, when four security personnel including Colonel Manpreet Singh, Major Ashish and Deputy Superintendent of Police Humayun Bhat were martyred.
During this, two terrorists including a Lashkar-e-Taiba (LET) commander were also killed. It is believed that the terrorists involved in the recent Anantnag incident might have crossed the border from Kishtwar district after escaping the encounter in Doda.
Giving details of the ongoing operation, a Srinagar-based defence spokesperson said on August 5, it was confirmed through human and electronic means that terrorists responsible for atrocities in Doda region in July had crossed the Kishtwar range and entered into Kapran-Garol area of south Kashmir.
He said, “The Rashtriya Rifles and Jammu and Kashmir Police constantly kept an eye on these terrorists and on the night of 9th and 10th August, a precise operation was carried out in the mountains east of Kapran, where these terrorists were reportedly hiding.”
The spokesperson said, “On August 10, at about 2 pm, suspicious movements were observed. On being challenged by the security forces, the terrorists immediately started indiscriminate, desperate and reckless firing, injuring two army personnel and two civilians in the vicinity.” He said the terrorist background of the injured civilians is being ascertained.
The spokesperson said, “This area is at an altitude of more than 10,000 feet, there are dense forests, huge rocks, ravines and complex paths which pose a serious challenge for the operation. Security forces are moving ahead cautiously and trying to catch the terrorists.” He said that “the operation will continue throughout the night”. The situation remains tense and security forces are continuing to search for terrorists in the area.
Tags: Anantnag News, indian army, jammu kashmir
FIRST PUBLISHED : August 10, 2024, 18:55 IST
