Anantnag encounter: Kashmir Police asks ex-servicemen to avoid “ambush hypothesis”, says trapped terrorists will be neutralised

Anantnag (Jammu and Kashmir) [India]: Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) Kashmir Vijay Kumar on Friday asked retired police and Army officials to refrain from making unnecessary “ambush hypothesis” following the ongoing gunfight between security personnel and terrorists in the Kokernag area of the Anantnag district, which has entered its third day on Friday.

ADGP also specified that a specific input-based operation is underway and all the trapped terrorists would be neutralised.

In a post on X Kashmir Zone Police wrote, “Kokernag Encounter Update: Rtd Police/Army officers should avoid the “Ambush Hypothesis”. It is a specific input-based operation. Ops is in progress, and all 2-3 trapped terrorists will be neutralised: ADGP Kashmir.”

Meanwhile, a soldier who had been reported missing since yesterday has lost his life in the ongoing encounter, officials said.

“One more soldier has lost his life in the Anantnag operations. He had been reported missing since yesterday,” Security officials said.

“In joint security operations against terrorists in the Anantnag area, forces dropped grenades on suspected terrorist hideout locations using drones. Grenade launchers are also being used by troops to target the group of terrorists hiding in the area,” they added.

An Army Colonel commanding a Quick Response Team (QRT) of the Rashtriya Rifles, lost his life in the ongoing gunfight in the Anantnag district. An Army Major and a Deputy Superintendent with the Jammu and Kashmir Police also fell to enemy fire in the Kokernag area.

The slain senior Army officers and the DSP were identified as Colonel Manpreet Singh, Major Ashish Dhonak, and Humayun Bhat.