Indian Army Colonel, Major and J&K Police DSP killed during encounter with terrorists in Anantnag

An Indian Army Colonel commanding a Rashtriya Rifles Unit along with a Major and Jammu and Kashmir police deputy superintendent lost their lives on Wednesday (September 13) in an encounter in Anantnag with terrorists in the Kokernag area of Kashmir's Anantnag district, news agencies reported citing officials.

The news agency PTI reported that Colonel Manpreet Singh, Major Ashish, and DSP Humayun Bhat were critically injured in the gunfight and died later, officials said, further adding that Bhat died due to heavy blood loss.

Colonel Singh was leading his team from the front, he attacked the terrorists who fired upon him, causing critical injuries. The security forces are still carrying out the operation and terrorists are holed up reportedly.

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After that, senior army and police officers, GoC 15 Corps Lt General Rajiv Ghai including DGP Dilbag Singh rushed to the spot to assess the situation.

Altaf Thakur, BJP JK spokesperson said: ''I pay glorious tributes to brave hearts Col Manpreet Singh, Maj Aashish Dhonchak, and DSP Humanyu, son of DIG Ghulam Hassan Bhat of Tral, for laying down their lives for the country. Our security forces are committed to root out terror from JK soil and those behind the killing of today's heroes won't be spared. Urge top army officials and police to track down killers forth with. Express my sympathies with the bereaved families."

According to the officials, the operation against the terrorists began on Tuesday evening in the Gadole area but was called off during the night. This morning, the hunt for the terrorists resumed after information started trickling in that they were spotted at a hideout.

Earlier, Kashmir-based XV corps said that "based on specific intelligence on presence of terrorists a Joint Operation was launched by #IndianArmy & @JmuKmrPolice on the intervening night of 12-13 Sep in Area Garol, Anantnag. Contact established and a firefight ensued. Two Army personnel and one J&K Police personnel injured. Operation in progress."

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The banned Resistance Front (TRF), which is said to be a shadow group of Pakistan-based Lashker-e-Taiba (LeT) has claimed responsibility for the attack. Two terrorists were neutralised by security forces.

Officials believe that it is the same set of terrorists who had carried out the attack on army personnel on August 4 killing three jawans in the higher reaches of the Halan forest area of Kulgam district.

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