Kashmir: The ongoing anti-terror operation in Anantnag district, Jammu and Kashmir, has seen the death toll rise to three after a civilian succumbed to injuries early Sunday morning, officials confirmed to TDG.
Abdul Rashid Dar, who sustained injuries from terrorist gunfire on Saturday, passed away in a Srinagar hospital. His death follows the earlier confirmation of two Army personnel who were martyred during the intense firefight in the Ahlan Gagarmandu forest area.
The encounter began on the evening of August 10, when a joint cordon and search operation by the Army and local police was launched in the remote Ahlan Gagarmandu forest area. This operation was triggered by intelligence reports suggesting the presence of terrorists in the high-altitude region, situated approximately 10,000 feet above sea level.
According to officials, the operation turned into a fierce battle when terrorists opened fire on the security forces. Six Army personnel and two civilians were injured during the confrontation. The two slain Army personnel have been identified as Havildar Dipak Kumar Yadav and Lance Naik Praveen Sharma. The injured soldiers were quickly transported to a nearby medical facility, but two succumbed to their injuries shortly after arrival.
In response to the escalating situation, additional reinforcements have been deployed to the area. The security forces are intensifying their efforts to locate and neutralize the terrorists, who remain at large despite the challenging terrain.
This incident is reminiscent of a similar operation in the Kokernag region last September, which resulted in the deaths of four security personnel, including Colonel Manpreet Singh and Major Ashish, along with Deputy SP Humayun Bhat. That operation also led to the neutralization of two terrorists, including a senior Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) commander.
Following a deadly encounter in Doda district on July 15, where four soldiers, including a captain, were martyred, security forces have heightened their operations in the Kokernag woods. It is suspected that the terrorists involved in the Anantnag encounter may have crossed over from Kishtwar district after escaping the confrontation in Doda.
On August 5, security agencies confirmed through both human and electronic intelligence that the terrorists responsible for the Doda region violence had infiltrated the Kapran-Garol area in south Kashmir. The ongoing operation, which began on the night of August 9-10, involved tracking these terrorists to the mountainous terrain east of Kapran.
A Srinagar-based defense spokesperson detailed that suspicious activity was detected around 2 p.m. on August 10. The terrorists responded with indiscriminate and reckless firing, leading to injuries among two Army personnel and two nearby civilians. The terror background of the injured civilians is currently under investigation.
The spokesperson also noted the challenging conditions faced by security forces due to the region’s altitude, dense undergrowth, and rugged terrain. Despite these obstacles, operations continue as forces methodically pursue the terrorists.
