The Army announced on Wednesday that the joint operation conducted from September 13–19 along with the J&K Police in the Garol forest area in the Anantnag district has ended. The operation was based on specific intelligence inputs regarding the presence of the terrorists. The Army said that the first contact was established on September 13, which resulted in a firefight and a prolonged operation that continued until September 19. During the operation, two terrorists were killed, rifles, pistol and war-like stores were recovered.
"A joint operation was conducted from 13-19 Sept by Indian Army and J&K Police in area Garol, Anantnag based on specific intelligence inputs regarding presence of terrorists. The first contact was established on 13 Sept resulting in a fire fight and a prolonged operation that continued till 19 Sept. Two terrorists have been eliminated along with a recovery of 02xAK Rifles, 01xPistol and other war-like stores. Indian Army Chinar Corps salutes the supreme valour & sacrifice of Col Manpreet Singh, SM, DySP Humayun Bhat, Maj Aashish Dhonchak, SM & Sep Pardeep Singh who laid down their lives in service of the Nation, in the highest traditions of the Indian Army and JKP. Joint Operation has been concluded," Indian Army said, as quoted by ANI.
Colonel Manpreet Singh, commanding officer, of 19 Rashtriya Rifles, Major Ashish Dhonchak and Deputy Superintendent of Jammu and Kashmir Police Humayun Bhat lost their lives during the encounter.
Search Operation Will Continue As Many Areas Still Left, Says ADGP Kashmir
ADGP Kashmir Vijay Kumar has said that the search operations will continue as many areas are still left. He also urged the people to avoid going in the forest area.
"The search operation will continue as many areas are still left...We would appeal to the public to not go there...We had the information about 2-3 terrorists. It's possible that we find the third body somewhere that's why we will complete the search operation. We found the body of the LeT Commander and retrieved it, we could also spot another body...We're looking for the third body," ADGP Kashmir Vijay Kumar on anti-terror operation at Anantnag.
Body Of Missing Soldier Found After 6 Days
Two bodies were found in the dense forest region of the Gadole region on Monday, one of which was of a soldier who went missing last Wednesday during an encounter with militants. The identity of the other is yet to be ascertained, said an official while talking to the news agency PTI. Police officials have received information that two to three terrorists are trapped in the forest area.
The security forces are using drones and helicopters for surveillance of the dense forest area with several cave-like hideouts where the terrorists are believed. During the search, drone footage showed a charred body near one of the terrorist hideouts that was destroyed during the operation. Several cave-like hideouts are being examined where terrorists are believed to have been holed up since Wednesday.
The search was extended to the neighbouring area of Posh Kreeri on Sunday as a precautionary measure in order to ensure that the terrorists don't slip into the civilian areas, reported PTI.