SRINAGAR: Two soldiers and two civilians have lost their lives, and two more civilians were injured during an ongoing operation in the Ahlan area of Kokernag in Anantnag district today.
The deceased soldiers have been identified as Havildar Dipak Kumar Yadav and Lance Naik Praveen Sharma. The identification of the civilians is awaited as their bodies have yet to be retrieved from the operation site.
An official reported that during an encounter, two Army personnel sustained critical injuries. They were promptly transported to a nearby medical facility, where they succumbed to their wounds.
“Their bravery lives on, inspiring countless hearts while they rest in eternal peace.”
All Ranks of the #ChinarCorps salute the supreme #sacrifice of #Bravehearts Hav Dipak Kumar Yadav & LNk Praveen Sharma who laid down their lives in the line of duty in #Anantnag.… pic.twitter.com/Ihn6kwK0NG
— Chinar Corps🍁 – Indian Army (@ChinarcorpsIA) August 11, 2024
Meanwhile, the Army’s Chinar Corps posted on the micro-blogging platform X: “Two civilians have also been injured due to indiscriminate and reckless gunfire by terrorists during the ongoing operation; they have received immediate medical treatment and have been evacuated. The operation is still underway.”
Earlier, a fierce exchange of gunfire erupted between terrorists and security forces in Ahlan Kokernag following specific intelligence received by the security forces.
The official mentioned that the operation was initiated by the Army two days ago after receiving information about the presence of terrorists in the forested area.
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A Defence spokesperson based in Srinagar issued a statement confirming that terrorists from Doda had infiltrated the Kokernag forests, prompting the Army to launch an operation against them.
“It was confirmed through human and electronic intelligence on August 5, 2024, that the terrorists responsible for attacks in the Doda region in July 2024 had crossed the Kishtwar range into the Kapran Garol area in South Kashmir. The Rashtriya Rifles and J&K Police have been relentlessly tracking these terrorists, leading to a targeted operation launched on the night of August 9 and 10, 2024, in the area east of Kapran, in the mountains, where these terrorists were reportedly hiding. The suspicious movement was observed at approximately 1400 hours on August 10. When challenged, terrorists responded with indiscriminate and reckless gunfire.”
The spokesperson highlighted that the challenging terrain of the area is complicating the operation.
“The area is situated above 10,000 feet in altitude, with dense vegetation, large boulders, streams, and ravines that present significant obstacles to the operation. Security forces are proceeding cautiously and are in the process of tracking down the terrorists.,” the statement concluded.
It is worth noting that last year in September, around a dozen security personnel, including two Army and police officers, lost their lives in the area during a similar operation. Since then, the security forces have been monitoring the movements of terrorists in the forested region.