The encounter with terrorists in the Anantnag district of Jammu and Kashmir has entered its fifth day, with a prolonged battle taking place deep inside the forested Gadol area. Despite the continuous efforts of thousands of soldiers, including paracommandos, the terrorists are utilizing the challenging terrain and forest cover to evade capture and extend the encounter.
In the ongoing operation to neutralize the terrorists, three officers—two from the Army and one from the police—have lost their lives. The officers killed in action have been identified as Colonel Manpreet Singh, Major Ashish Dhonak, and Humayun Bhat. The death toll in the Anantnag encounter has now climbed to four after police discovered the body of one more missing soldier on Friday.
The security forces have employed various tactics, including the use of high-tech weapons, hundreds of mortar shells, and rockets, to target suspected terrorist hideouts. Sophisticated drones have also been used to drop explosives in the area.
The encounter began on Wednesday, September 13, and has continued for more than 100 hours. It involves a combined team of security personnel from the Army and the Jammu and Kashmir Police engaging with the terrorists in the Kokernag area of Anantnag district.
To aid their efforts in locating the terrorists who are holed up in the Kokernag area, the security forces are utilizing quadcopters and drones. Officials have reported that the forces have fired mortar shells on terrain believed to be the hiding place of the terrorists, based on drone surveillance.
In addition to mortar shells and rockets, the forces have used grenade launchers to target the group of terrorists. Drones have been employed to drop grenades on suspected terrorist hideout locations.
On Friday, Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) Kashmir Vijay Kumar called on retired police and Army officials to avoid making unnecessary “ambush hypotheses” related to the ongoing gunfight between security personnel and terrorists in the Kokernag area of Anantnag district. The authorities continue to exert concerted efforts to bring the situation under control and eliminate the terrorist threat in the region.