Anantnag Encounter: Two Army personnel were killed, and six others, including two civilians, were injured in a fierce gunfight with terrorists in the Ahlan Gagarmandu forest area of Jammu and Kashmir's Anantnag district. The incident occurred at an altitude of 10,000 feet on Saturday, as security forces continued operations despite the challenging terrain.
According to officials, the encounter began when a group of terrorists opened fire on the joint search parties comprising Army troopers, including para commandos, and local police, news agency PTI reported. The search operation had been initiated based on intelligence reports indicating the presence of terrorists in the remote forest area within the Kokernag belt.
In the ensuing gun battle, six Army personnel and two civilians sustained injuries. The injured soldiers were promptly evacuated to a nearby hospital, where two of them succumbed to their injuries. The remaining injured personnel and civilians are currently receiving medical attention.
Reinforcements have been deployed in the area, and the search for the fleeing terrorists is ongoing. The topography, characterised by thick undergrowth, large boulders, and rugged terrain, poses significant challenges to the operation. A Srinagar-based defence spokesperson stated that security forces are proceeding with caution and the hunt for the terrorists is ongoing, with operations expected to continue through the night.
This encounter is reminiscent of a similar operation in the Kokernag region last September, which resulted in the deaths of four security personnel, including Colonel Manpreet Singh, Major Ashish, and Deputy SP Humayun Bhat. During that week-long engagement, two terrorists, including a senior commander of the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), were neutralised.
Anantnag Encounter
Security forces have intensified their efforts in the Kokernag woods following an encounter in Doda district on July 15 that claimed the lives of four soldiers, including a captain. It is suspected that the terrorists involved in the recent Anantnag incident may have crossed over from Kishtwar district after escaping the confrontation in Doda.
Providing details of the ongoing operation, the defence spokesperson said, "On August 5, it was confirmed through human and electronic means that terrorists responsible for atrocities in the Doda region in July have sneaked across the Kishtwar range into the Kapran-Garol area in south Kashmir." The spokesperson added that the Rashtriya Rifles and the Jammu and Kashmir Police have been relentlessly tracking these terrorists, launching precise operations on the night of August 9 and 10 in the mountains east of Kapran, where the terrorists were reportedly holed up.
Suspicious movement was observed around 2 pm on August 10, leading to a firefight. "Challenging by security forces was immediately responded to by indiscriminate, desperate, and reckless firing from the terrorists, in which two Army personnel and two civilians in the vicinity were injured," the spokesperson said. The terror affiliations of the injured civilians are currently being investigated.
The situation remains tense as security forces continue their pursuit of the terrorists.
In response to the incident, the Additional Directorate General of Public Information (ADG PI) of the Indian Army tweeted, "#GeneralUpendraDwivedi #COAS and All Ranks of #IndianArmy salute the supreme #Sacrifice of #Bravehearts Hav Dipak Kumar Yadav & L/Nk Praveen Sharma, who laid down their lives in the line of duty, in Anantnag, J&K. #IndianArmy offers deepest condolences and stands firm with the bereaved families in this hour of grief."
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge also expressed his condolences on X (formerly Twitter), stating, "Two soldiers of the Army made the ultimate sacrifice and demonstrated their valour in a joint operation against terrorists in Anantnag, Jammu and Kashmir. We salute the martyrdom of our brave soldiers. We extend our deepest condolences to their bereaved families and wish the injured a speedy recovery. The increasing terrorist incidents in Jammu and Kashmir are a matter of concern. The national security policy of the Modi government should be based on concrete steps rather than self-praise."
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also shared her sorrow, posting, "The news of the martyrdom of two brave soldiers and the injury of several others while confronting terrorists in Anantnag, Jammu and Kashmir, is extremely sad. May God grant peace to the departed souls. My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families. I pray for the speedy recovery of the injured."
Earlier, the Indian Army's Chinar Corps shared details of the ongoing operation on X, "Based on specific intelligence input, a Joint Operation was launched by Indian Army, Jammu Kashmir Police and CRPF today in general area Kokernag, Anantnag. Contact was established and firefight ensued. Two personnel have been injured and evacuated from the area. Operations are in progress."
The Kashmir Zone Police had announced the development on X, posting, "Encounter has started at Ahlan Gagarmandu area of District Anantnag. Police and Security forces are on the job."
In a related development, the Jammu and Kashmir Police on Saturday released sketches of four terrorists last spotted in the Dhoks of Malhar, Bani, and Seojdhar in the Kathua district. The police have also offered a reward of Rs 5 lakh for information leading to their capture.
These incidents are part of a recent surge in terror-related activities in the Jammu region, which has seen attacks on army convoys in Kathua and encounters in Doda and Udhampur.