Within two days since the tragic death of two army personnel and one police officer, another soldier was killed on Friday who succumbed to his injuries during the third day of the encounter which began on Wednesday.
Amid the intensifying situation, the Kokernag forest area in Anantnag has been cordoned off and the security forces have launched a search operation in a bid to apprehend the terrorists.
As per media reports, fresh blasts and heavy firing were heard from the forest area on Friday morning, and continued into the afternoon as the search operation is underway.
In a bid to locate the precise location of the terrorists hidden in the hilly region, army troops have deployed drones today, officials said as the operation to flush out the ultras entered the third day on Friday.
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According to the officials, "The forces fired mortar shells on the terrain where they believe the terrorists are hiding, based on drone surveillance."
Army and police personnel killed in encounter
On Wednesday, Colonel Manpreet Singh, Major Ashish, and DSP Humayun Bhat did the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty during the encounter to neutralize the militants in Anantnag. The identity of the fourth soldier who died today has not yet been revealed.
On Friday morning, the mortal remains of Colonel Manpreet Singh and Major Ashish Dhonchack were brought to their residences in Panipat.
Deputy Superintendent Humayun Bhat was laid to rest on Wednesday at his residence in Budgam.
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The Indian Army had airlifted the bodies to Srinagar on Thursday after the encounter. A homage was paid to their mortal remains on Thursday evening.
Besides the soldiers, Kent, a 6-year-old female Army labrador also sacrificed her life in an attempt to safeguard a soldier from the terrorists during the encounter.
Officials said the army was leading the troops based on inputs from specific intelligence, searching for terrorists in a hideout when the gunfight broke out. The terrorists opened fire, killing the Colonel instantly and injuring two officials, who later died in a hospital in Srinagar.
The terrorists are believed to be from "The Resistance Front", a Lashkar proxy. Security forces suspect two-three terrorists are hiding in the area. Heron drones and quadcopters have been deployed in the area to carry out surveillance and assist in the search operation, officials said.
