Security forces have intensified their efforts to flush out terrorists hiding in the dense forests of Anantnag district in Jammu and Kashmir. The ongoing operation, now in its second day, has already claimed the lives of two soldiers and a civilian.
Additional security personnel have been deployed to the Ahlan Gagarmandu forest area, where the terrorists, believed to number between three and four, are hiding. The operation is focused on the upper reaches of Gagarmandu, where an intense search is underway to locate and neutralize the terrorists.
The encounter began on Saturday during a cordon and search operation based on intelligence reports suggesting the presence of terrorists in the area. The terrorists opened fire on the joint search teams, which included Army personnel and local police. In the initial exchange of fire, three soldiers were injured, and two civilians were also hurt.
Two of the injured soldiers succumbed to their injuries, and one of the civilians also lost his life. The third soldier is currently receiving medical treatment, and his condition is reported to be stable. The presence of the two civilians near the encounter site is under investigation, with authorities looking into whether they were involved in any terrorist activities.
The operation is taking place in a remote and challenging area at an altitude of 10,000 feet. The dense undergrowth, large boulders, and nallahs (streams) in the forested region make it difficult for security forces to advance. Despite these challenges, the forces are determined to continue their mission until the terrorists are eliminated.
There are suspicions that the terrorists involved in this encounter may have crossed over from the Doda district after a previous confrontation with security forces. In July, an encounter in Doda resulted in the deaths of four soldiers, including a captain. The current operation is a continuation of efforts to track down these terrorists, who are believed to have fled to the Kapran-Garol area in south Kashmir.
The situation remains tense as security forces continue their pursuit of the terrorists in the area. The ongoing operation serves as a reminder of a similar encounter in the Kokernag region last September, where four security personnel, including a colonel and a major, were killed in a week-long engagement with terrorists.
The Inspector General of Police for the Kashmir Zone, V K Birdi, stated that the operation is ongoing and further details will be shared once it is completed. The authorities are also investigating whether the terrorists involved in this encounter had come from Doda, but it is too early to confirm this.
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A Srinagar-based defense spokesperson provided details of the operation, stating that security forces had tracked the terrorists responsible for recent atrocities in the Doda region. The terrorists were located in the mountains east of Kapran, and the operation was launched on the night of August 9 and 10. When the terrorists were confronted by security forces, they responded with indiscriminate firing, resulting in injuries to two soldiers and two civilians.
Security forces are moving cautiously through the difficult terrain, determined to complete the operation successfully. The current situation in the Anantnag district remains tense as the forces continue their efforts to eliminate the terrorists and restore peace to the region.
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