The Indian Army recalibrated its response on the ground to flush out a group of terrorists believed to be hiding inside a cave-like structure in the densely forested area of Garole near Kokernag in the South Kashmir district of Anantnag. The encounter in the area has been ongoing since late Tuesday night.
According to reports from the ground, the joint team of security forces, including elite commandos of the Special Forces, employed modern weapons, including Heron drones, on Friday to conduct a series of blasts inside the jungle area in an effort to force the terrorists out of their hiding places. Surveillance drones were also utilised to closely monitor the movements of the terrorists. Despite the heavy use of firepower and other tactical measures, the terrorists remained elusive. Grenade launchers were employed by troops to target the group of terrorists, but significant progress could not be made.
The joint security forces continued to maintain a tight cordon in the area to prevent the terrorists from escaping and exploiting the dense vegetation to their advantage. Senior Army and J&K Police officials visited the encounter site to boost the morale of the joint security forces.
The movement of the civilian population near the encounter site has been restricted by the security forces. The entire area has been cordoned off, with additional reinforcements rushed to the area.
Colonel Manpreet Singh, the commanding officer of 19 Rashtriya Rifles, Major Aashish Dhonchak, also from the same battalion, and DSP Humayun Muzamil Bhat were martyred in action during the gunfight on Wednesday. The last rites for both decorated Army officers were conducted with full military honours in their native villages on Friday, where their loved ones bid them a tearful farewell.
Meanwhile, a Lashkar-e-Teyyiba (LeT) terror module was uncovered in Baramulla district with the arrest of two militant associates and the recovery of arms and ammunition from them, as reported by the police on Friday. The two terrorist associates of the LeT outfit were apprehended in Uri area of Baramulla in north Kashmir, according to a police spokesperson. He identified the two as Zaid Hassan Malla, a resident of Mir Sahib Baramulla, and Mohammad Arif Channa, from Stadium Colony Baramulla.
During their personal search, two Glock pistols, two pistol magazines, two pistol silencers, five Chinese grenades, and 28 live pistol rounds were retrieved from their possession, the spokesperson stated.
“They were involved in cross-border smuggling of arms and ammunition at the behest of Pakistan-based terror handlers and its further distribution to LeT terrorists for carrying out terror activities,” the spokesperson added.
A case under the UAPA and the Arms Act has been registered, and further investigation is underway.
