Expressing “deepest condolences” to the families of those who were killed in the line of duty at Anantnag, PDP leader Mehbooba Mufti said: “There is no place for such abominable acts of violence.”
Two senior Army officers – a Commanding Officer (CO) of the Rashtriya Rifles (RR), a Major, and also a DSP of J&K Police – were killed on Wednesday in an encounter with terrorists in South Kashmir’s Kokernag in Anantnag district. Srinagar based Chinar Corps said in the morning that two Army and a J&K Police personnel were injured.
The martyred officers have been identified as Colonel Manpreet Singh CO of 19 RR, Major Ashish Dhonchak and DSP Humayun Bhat.
Army helicopters were rushed to evacuate the injured officers to the Srinagar based military hospital.
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Lt Governor Manoj Sinha and DGP Dilbag Singh laid wreaths on the body of DSP Humayun Bhat.
#WATCH | Jammu & Kashmir LG Manoj Sinha lays a wreath to pay tribute to J&K DSP Humayun Muzammil Bhat who lost his life in the Anantnag encounter. pic.twitter.com/92AAjL4qa1
— ANI (@ANI) September 13, 2023
DGP Dilbag Singh has condoled the martyrdom of the braveheart officers of J&K Police and Army.
He said that he was deeply saddened by the terrible loss of three young bravehearts Colonel Manpreet Singh, Major Ashish Dhonack of 19 RR and DySP Humayun Muzamil Bhat, son of retired IG of J&K Police Ghulam Hassan Bhat.
The DGP has said that every loss of life is unfortunate adding that perpetrators of the criminal act would be brought to justice soon.
In another encounter in Jammu’s Rajouri district, an Army Rifleman of 63 RR, Ravi Kumar was killed on Tuesday evening. Two Pakistani terrorists have been killed and three other Army soldiers and a police PSO have been injured in the encounter.
#WATCH | J&K | Encounter has begun in Kokernag area of Anantnag. Kashmir Zone Police says that officers from the Army and J&K Police have sustained injuries.
(Visuals deferred by unspecified time) https://t.co/7Hb0aOHJPt pic.twitter.com/gjZQO26Yrq
— ANI (@ANI) September 13, 2023
Meanwhile, GOC 15 Corps, Lt General Rajiv Ghai, DGP Dilbagh Singh, ADGP Kashmir Vijay Kumar along with other senior officers flew to the gunfight spot in Kokernag to personally monitor the ongoing operation.
Additional troops have been rushed to the encounter spot.
The encounter in Kokernag broke out in the Gadole area when a joint team of Army and Police launched a cordon and search operation following intelligence inputs about the presence of terrorists.
The officers received bullet injuries during the initial exchange of fire. They were immediately rushed to the hospital.
Meanwhile, Nagrota based White Knight Corps of the Army in a wreath laying ceremony saluted the supreme sacrifice of Rifleman Ravi during Rajouri encounter.
The joint operation in Rajouri village started on Tuesday when the Indian Army and JKP monitored and tracked movement of two terrorists since 7 September.
One terrorist was killed on Tuesday and another on Wednesday. Despite bad weather and hostile terrain, the second terrorist was pursued and neutralized after heavy firing throughout the night.
A large quantity of warlike stores have been recovered, including Pakistan marking medicines. An Army tracker dog also laid down her life, said a defence spokesman.
Northern Army Commander Lieutenant General Upendra Dwivedi said, Pakistan is trying to send foreign terrorists to create disturbance in Jammu and Kashmir. He also said that they would not let Pakistan succeed in its nefarious designs.
DIG Rajouri-Poonch range, Dr Haseeb Mughal said that the operation in Rajouri’s Narla village was underway for the last three days, It was a joint operation by the Indian Army, J&K police and CRPF. This is the toughest terrain of district Rajouri and there were operational difficulties as well but it was handled professionally, he added.
Meanwhile, condemning the terror attack in Kokernag, National Conference leaders Dr Farooq Abdullah and Omar Abdullah said that such attacks are highly condemnable, as they inflict unbearable pain and suffering on our nation and undermine peace and stability.
Expressing “deepest condolences” to the families of those who were killed in the line of duty at Anantnag, PDP leader Mehbooba Mufti said: “There is no place for such abominable acts of violence.”
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