The Jammu and Kashmir Police have reported that they have cornered two Lashkar-e-Toiba terrorists in the Anantnag district, where a tragic encounter claimed the lives of three brave security officers the previous day.
In a solemn tribute to the unyielding valor displayed by Colonel Manpreet Singh, Major Ashish Dhonak, and DSP Humayun Bhat, who led from the front and made the ultimate sacrifice during the ongoing operation, the Kashmir Zone Police posted on X: "Our forces continue their unwavering resolve as they encircle 2 LET terrorists, including Uzair Khan."
The unfortunate incident took place during an encounter with terrorists at Gadole in the Kokernag area of Anantnag district on Wednesday. Among the fallen heroes were the commanding officer of 19 Rashtriya Rifles, a major-ranked officer, and a Deputy Superintendent of Police.
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Colonel Manpreet Singh, hailing from Mohali, was one of the soldiers who lost their lives in the gunfight with the terrorists in J&K's Anantnag area, which commenced on Tuesday evening. Colonel Singh was leading the battalion that resumed the operation on Wednesday morning. Despite sustaining severe injuries in the firefight, he valiantly continued until he succumbed to his wounds. Major Ashish Dhonack and Deputy Superintendent Humayun Bhat also made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty.
Colonel Singh's last conversation with his family on Wednesday morning was a poignant one. He had conveyed that he was occupied and promised to speak later. Regrettably, that "later" never arrived, casting a pall of sorrow over his village when his family was informed of his demise later in the day.
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This tragic incident occurred just a day after an Army personnel and Kent, a six-year-old female Labrador from the Army's dog unit, were killed, and three security personnel were injured in a gunfight in the South of Pir Panjal at Rajouri in the Jammu region. In a separate encounter in the remote Narla village, two terrorists were also neutralized.
Security forces conducted an aerial operation to transport the remains of Colonel Manpreet Singh and Major Ashish Dhonchak from the encounter site located in Jammu and Kashmir's Anantnag district on Thursday. This somber task followed their tragic demise, which occurred during a confrontation with terrorists, along with a deputy superintendent of police the day before.
The bodies of Colonel Singh and Major Dhonchak were airlifted from Kokernag to the Army's 92 Base Hospital situated in the Badamibagh Cantonment here, according to officials.
In a solemn and dignified tribute, senior Army, police, and civil administration representatives will gather to pay their final respects to these brave officers before their mortal remains are dispatched to their respective hometowns for the ultimate farewell ceremonies.
"Everyone keeps talking about how things are getting back to normal. But where's that normalcy?" questioned Ahmad, a 32-year-old acquaintance of DSP Humayun Bhat.
"My friend has left behind a young wife and a son who's barely a month old. How many more lives will we lose here?" Ahmad lamented, Al jazeera reported.
