Anantnag Encounter Ends On Day 7, LeT Commander Uzair Khan Among 2 Terrorists Killed

The Jammu and Kashmir Police on Tuesday said that an encounter that was going on in Kokernag area of Anantnag for a week has ended.

According to Additional Director General of Police, Kashmir, Vijay Kumar, two terrorists, including Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) commander Uzair Khan were killed in the gunfight that started on Wednesday.

The death toll in the fire exchange between Indian security forces and terrorists had risen to five after the body of a soldier who had been missing was found. Two bodies were found in the forest area on Monday.

One was identified as Pradeep, the soldier killed by terrorists on Wednesday last week. The identity of the other is yet to be ascertained.

AFP

Soldier missing since day one

Earlier, Colonel Manpreet Singh, commanding officer of 19 Rashtriya Rifles, Major Ashish Dhonchak and Deputy Superintendent of Jammu and Kashmir Police Humayun Bhat were killed by terrorists in the operation that began on Wednesday.

27-year-old Pradeep had gone missing on Wednesday and was believed to have been killed.

Anantnag Encounter

AFP

Officials had said earlier that drone footage showed a charred body near one of the terrorist hideouts destroyed during the operation. Security forces were using drones and helicopters to survey the dense forest area with several cave-like hideouts where terrorists are believed to have been holed up since Wednesday.

Why the encounter took seven days

The operation in Anantnag had turned into one of the most prolonged military engagements in Kashmir, but the security forces are sparing no effort in their mission to eradicate terrorist hideouts nestled within the challenging terrain of Gadool Hill.

It was estimated that the area may be concealing two to three terrorists, including two Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists, among them self-styled LeT commander Uzair Khan.

AFP

Martyrs led from the front

Lieutenant General (Retd) KJS Dhillon said on Sunday that the three security personnel¡ªtwo Indian army officers and one Jammu and Kashmir Police officer¡ªwho were killed in the Anantnag encounter were highly motivated people who had a lot of experience in counter-terrorism operations.

"Col Manpreet Singh and Major Aashish Dhonchak both were very brave soldiers. Both were highly decorated...They both had a lot of experience in counter-terrorist operations, especially in these areas," said Lt Dhillon.

BCCL

"DSP Humayun Bhat...was a very motivated officer...He was very tech-savvy, intelligent and always believed in leading from the front...All are very highly motivated people...These three officers were of top grade officers we had in the Indian Army or the Jammu & Kashmir Police...These operations were carried out in a very synergised-joint manner," Dhillon added.

For more on the news, sports, and current affairs from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News.