SRINAGAR: An Army colonel, a major and a deputy superintendent of JK Police were reported killed in an ongoing gunfight with militants in Kokernag area of Anantnag district of Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday.
The gunfight broke out between a mixed contingent of army and Jammu and Kashmir Police and the militants in rugged Gadole area on Wednesday morning, a police official earlier said.
Colonel Manpreet Singh, Major Ashish Dhonchak, deputy superintendent of Jammu and Kashmir Police Humayun Bhat were critically injured in the gunfight and later succumbed to their injuries, they said. Bhat died due to heavy blood loss, they added.
Humayun was a 2018 batch JKAS officer whose first son was born few days back. He is the son of former DIG Jammu Kashmir Police, Ghulam Hassan Bhat.
During the day, Jammu and Kashmir Police Chief, Dilbagh Singh and the GOC-15 Corps Lt Gen Rajiv Ghai flew to the spot to oversee the operation. Reports appearing in the media said that this was the major clash between the fugitives and the security forces.
“Terrible terrible news from J&K,” Omar Abdullah wrote on Twitter (X). “An army colonel, a major and a J&K Police DYSP gave the ultimate sacrifice in an encounter in Kokernag area of South Kashmir today. DySP Humayan Bhat, Major Ashish Dhonack, and Colonel Manpreet Singh laid down their lives in an encounter with terrorists. May their souls rest in peace & may their loved ones find strength at this difficult time.”
