Inspector General (IG) of Kashmir, VK Birdi, announced on Sunday that an operation, which began the previous day, is ongoing in the upper reaches of the Gagar-Mandu area of Kokernag in Jammu and Kashmir’s Anantnag district.
“Security forces received intelligence regarding terrorist movement in the upper reaches. A search operation was initiated in the Gagar-Mandu area, where security forces detected terrorist activity, leading to an exchange of fire. The operation is currently ongoing,” IG Birdi informed reporters.
He further disclosed that two Indian Army soldiers lost their lives during the encounter, while another soldier, who was injured, has been hospitalized and is in stable condition.
“Two soldiers made the ultimate sacrifice during the encounter, and a third, who was injured, is now stable,” Birdi said.
IG Birdi also confirmed that a civilian succumbed to injuries sustained during the crossfire, and another civilian is undergoing treatment in the hospital.
“An investigation is underway to determine the circumstances of the civilian casualties. One local resident succumbed to injuries, while another is stable and receiving medical care,” he added. IG Birdi speculated that the group of terrorists involved in the encounter consisted of three to four individuals.
In the wake of the incident, Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi and all ranks of the Indian Army paid tribute to Havildar Dipak Kumar Yadav and Lance Naik Praveen Sharma, who were killed in the encounter.
“The Chief of Army Staff, General Upendra Dwivedi, and all ranks of the Indian Army salute the supreme sacrifice of Bravehearts Havildar Dipak Kumar Yadav and Lance Naik Praveen Sharma, who laid down their lives in the line of duty in Anantnag, J&K,” read a post on X from the Additional Directorate General of Public Information, IHQ of MoD (Army).