SRINAGAR: Two more soldiers have sustained injuries in the ongoing encounter within the dense forests of Kokernag in Anantnag district, NDTV reported. The joint operation, conducted by the army and the police, was initiated late on Tuesday night in pursuit of militants. The confrontation escalated in the early hours of Wednesday.
Monitoring the operation closely are Lieutenant General Rajiv Ghai, the General-Officer-Commanding (GOC) of the Chinar Corps, and Major General Balbir Singh, the GOC of the Victor Force. They have affirmed that the militants will face justice without exception.
To subdue the militants, the armed forces have heightened their anti-militancy efforts and have deployed state-of-the-art weaponry and equipment. The operation has now extended beyond 40 hours, with the deployment of Heron drones, known for their precision and strike capabilities.
Previously, the encounter has claimed the lives of Colonel Manpreet Singh (SM), who served as the Commanding Officer of the 19 Rashtriya Rifles Unit (19 RR), and Major Aashish Dhonchak (SM), who held the position of company commander of 19 RR. Additionally, Deputy Superintendent Himanyun Muzamil Bhat lost his life in the firefight.
In a painstaking operation amidst the challenging Kokernag terrain, the army successfully retrieved the soldiers’ remains.
