More areas under cordon, searches on

Srinagar, Aug 12: The encounter in the forested area of Kokernag in Anantnag district entered its third day on Monday as security forces intensified their efforts to eliminate the hiding terrorists.

The anti-terrorist operation was launched after a deadly exchange of fire on Saturday, which resulted in the deaths of three persons, including two soldiers.

“The gunfight began during a Cordon and Search Operation (CASO) in the remote Ahlan Gagarmandu forest area, based on intelligence indicating the presence of terrorists,” Police said.

According to Inspector General of Police (IGP),  Kashmir, Vidhi Kumar Birdi, during the encounter, a group of terrorists, believed to number between three and four, opened fire at a joint search party comprising Army personnel including elite para commandos, and Police.

In the ensuing gunfight, three soldiers and three civilians were injured.

The injured soldiers were quickly evacuated to a nearby hospital, however, Havaldar Dipak Kumar Yadav and Lance Naik Praveen Sharma succumbed to their injuries.

The encounter is reminiscent of a similar one that took place last September in Kokernag, where four security personnel including Colonel Manpreet Singh, Major Ashish, and Deputy SP Humayun Bhat, were killed during a prolonged week-long encounter with the terrorists.

In that engagement, two terrorists, including a senior commander of the Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT), were killed.

Police said that the ongoing operation had been particularly challenging due to the difficult terrain and dense forest cover.

Security forces have expanded the search of the area, determined to eliminate the terrorists, who are believed to have crossed over from Kishtwar district after evading confrontation during a previous encounter in Doda district on July 15.

That encounter resulted in the deaths of four soldiers, including a captain.

A Srinagar-based Defence spokesman said that on August 5, intelligence had indicated that terrorists responsible for recent attacks in Doda had crossed the Kishtwar range into the Kapran-Garol area in south Kashmir.