A joint operation by the Indian Army and the Jammu and Kashmir Police in Garol forests in Anantnag district of Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday resulted in the killing of three security personnel, including two army officers and a police officer.
The deceased have been identified as Colonel Manpreet Singh, who was commanding 19 Rashtriya Rifles Battalion, Major Ashish Dhonchack of 19 RR and Deputy Superintendent of Police Humayun Muzamil Bhat, who was recently posted in the area.
The operation was launched on a specific intelligence input about the presence of terrorists in the area. As the joint teams were approaching the militant hideout after midnight, they came under fire from the terrorists, resulting in injuries to the three officers. They were later shifted to Army’s base hospital in Srinagar, where they succumbed to their injuries.
The operation is still underway and fresh reinforcements have been rushed to the area. This is the most fatal attack on the forces in the Valley this year. In May this year, three soldiers were killed in a similar attack in Halan forests in Kulgam district.
The Resistance Front (TRF), a shadow outfit of the banned Lashkar-e-Taiba, has claimed responsibility for the attack. The TRF said the attack was in retaliation for the killing of Mohammad Riyaz of Poonch, who was killed in Rawalakote in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).
The attack has come at a time when the number of attacks or encounters in the Valley has come down in recent months. However, this attack is a reminder of the continuing threat posed by terrorism in the region.
The security forces have launched a massive operation to track down the terrorists involved in the attack.
