J&K terrorist encounter: Operation intensifies in Anantnag on day 2 after two soldiers, one civilian die | India News – Times of India

NEW DELHI: Security forces have intensified their operation to eliminate terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir’s Anantnag district as one of the injured civilian succumbed to his injuries on Sunday taking the toll to 3. The ongoing encounter in the Ahlan Gagarmandu forest area has resulted in the deaths of two soldiers on Saturday as it continued for a second day.Additional personnel have been dispatched to the area where an estimated three to four terrorists are believed to be holed up.
“The operation is going in the upper reaches of Gagarmandu. An intensive search operation is going on… Further details will be shared after the operation is over,” said Inspector General of Police Kashmir Zone V K Birdi near the encounter site in Kokernag, as quoted by news agency PTI.
Three soldiers were injured in the initial exchange of fire on Saturday. Two civilians also sustained injuries. “Two security personnel attained martyrdom while the third is undergoing treatment and his condition is said to be stable. Out of two civilians who were injured, one has succumbed,” Birdi stated.
When asked if the two civilians were involved in terrorist activities, Birdi explained that their presence near the encounter site is under investigation. “It is being investigated,” he said.
There is speculation that the terrorists involved in the encounter might have come from Doda, but the IGP said it is premature to confirm this. The death toll in the anti-terrorist operation rose to three earlier in the day as one of the injured civilians succumbed to his injuries.
The operation continues despite challenging topography, with the forest area located at an altitude of 10,000 feet. Intelligence reports had indicated the presence of terrorists in this remote area, prompting the cordon and search operation by security forces.
A group of terrorists opened fire at the joint search parties comprising Army personnel, including para commandos, and local police. In the ensuing gun battle, six Army personnel and two civilians were injured. The injured soldiers were rushed to a nearby hospital where two of them, Havildar Dipak Kumar Yadav and Lance Naik Praveen Sharma, succumbed. Their deaths were condoled by the army and union defence minister. “Deeply saddened at the loss of our brave and fearless Indian Army soldiers in a counter terrorist operation in Kokernag, Anantnag (J&K). My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families. The Nation stands firmly with them, in this hour of grief,” posted Rajnath Singh on X.

The operation began as security forces initiated a cordon and search operation in Ahlan Gagarmandu, located in the Kokernag area of south Kashmir, after receiving intelligence about the presence of terrorists. Reinforcements were rushed to the encounter area in response to the attack, according to the officials.Elaborating on the operation, a Srinagar-based defense spokesperson said that on August 5, information was confirmed through human and electronic means that terrorists responsible for atrocities in the Doda region in July had crossed the Kishtwar range into the Kapran-Garol area in south Kashmir.
“The Rashtriya Rifles and the Jammu and Kashmir Police have relentlessly tracked these terrorists and precise operations were launched on the night of August 9 and 10 in the mountains in the east of Kapran where these terrorists were reportedly holed up,” the spokesperson said.
Suspicious movement was observed around 2 pm on August 10, leading to security forces engaging the terrorists. They responded with indiscriminate firing, resulting in injuries to two Army personnel and two civilians nearby.
“The area is at an altitude of above 10,000 feet, has thick undergrowth, large boulders, nallahs and re-entrants that pose a serious challenge to operations. Security forces are moving deliberately and are in the process of hunting down the terrorists,” the spokesperson said.