Security personnel during an encounter with terrorists at Gadole area of Kokernag in Anantnag district of J&K, on September 14, 2023. (Pic/PTI)
The Anantnag operation has evolved into one of the most prolonged military engagements in Kashmir but the security forces are sparing no effort in their mission to eradicate terrorist hideouts nestled within the challenging terrain of Gadool Hill.
The Anantnag encounter, which can be considered one of the longest, has entered Day 7. Security forces believe around one to two terrorists are still trapped while a charred body of one of the terrorists, was retrieved in the morning.
Samples have been collected for DNA testing as another body, which was also recovered from the spot, can be of an army personnel, identified as Pradeep. This takes the casualty figures to four — 3 Indian Army personnel and one Jammu and Kashmir Police officer.
On Day 7, Army is likely to make the final push with the target to complete the operation since the body of the last soldier was recovered on Monday evening (Day 6).
The search operation is underway following the intense gunbattle between the Pakistan-backed terrorists and security forces in Kokernag of South Kashmir’s Anantnag district, which lasted for over 100 hours.
The operation to flush out terrorists, which entered day six on Monday, has been underway in the Gadole forest area of Anantnag since Wednesday, when three brave security forces personnel, including Commanding Officer of the 19 Rashtriya Rifles Colonel Manpreet Singh, Major Ashish Dhonchak, and Deputy Superintendent of Jammu and Kashmir Police Humayun Bhat lost their lives in the operation.
The security forces are using drones and helicopters for surveillance of the dense forest area with several cave-like hideouts where the terrorists are believed to be holed up since Wednesday, the officials said.
The security cordon was extended to the neighbouring Posh Kreeri area on Sunday as a precautionary measure to ensure that the terrorists do not slip into civilian areas.
What Happened So Far
On Friday night, riveting footage emerged that captured the use of weaponized drones, strategically employed to neutralize terrorist cave hideouts.
The Anantnag operation has evolved into one of the most prolonged military engagements in Kashmir but the security forces are sparing no effort in their mission to eradicate terrorist hideouts nestled within the challenging terrain of Gadool Hill.
Inputs suggest that the area may be concealing two to three terrorists, including two Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists, among them self-styled LeT commander Uzair Khan.
