• Army connects Anantnag terror group to Doda attack
• Terror antecedents of injured civilians being ascertained
Srinagar, Aug 10: Two Army jawans and a civilian were killed in a fierce gunfight with terrorists in the Ahlan area of Kokernag, Anantnag district, on Saturday, officials reported. One civilian was also injured in the encounter.
A police officer told Rising Kashmir that the intense fire-fight erupted during a joint operation by the Army and Jammu and Kashmir Police, based on specific intelligence regarding the presence of terrorists.
“During the firefight, two soldiers were critically injured. They were immediately shifted to a nearby hospital, where they succumbed to their injuries,” he said.
Two civilians were also injured in terrorists’ indiscriminate firing. Later, one civilian succumbed to injuries.
“We are investigating whether the deceased civilian had any connections to terrorist groups,” said a police official.
The operation, which began on August 10, involved cordoning off the area and conducting a search that led to the fire-fight. Currently, exchanges of fire are ongoing, and the operation is in progress.
Col. MK Sahu, PRO (Defence) Srinagar, noted that suspicious terrorist activity was detected around 2 PM on August 10 in the Kapran Garol area. The terrorists responded to the challenge with reckless firing, resulting in injuries to the soldiers and civilians.
The area, characterised by high altitude, thick undergrowth, and challenging terrain, is complicating the ongoing operation. Security forces are working methodically to locate and neutralize the terrorists, with operations expected to continue through the night.
“On challenging, it was immediately responded to by indiscriminate, desperate and reckless firing from terrorists in which two Army personnel and two civilians in the vicinity were injured,” he said.
Lt. Col Sahu said that the terror antecedents of the injured civilians are being ascertained. The area is above 10,000 feet in high altitude, has thick undergrowth, large boulders, nallahs and re-entrants that poses a serious challenge to operations.
“Security forces are moving deliberately and are in the process of hunting down the terrorists. Operations will progress through the night,” he said.
Lt. Col Sahu further said that it had been earlier confirmed through Human and Electronic means on 05 August 2024 terrorists responsible for atrocities and incidents in the Doda region in the month of July 24, had sneaked across the Kishtwar range into the Kapran Garol area in South Kashmir.
“Rashtriya Rifles and J&K Police have ever since relentlessly tracked these terrorists and precise operations were launched on the night of August 9 and10 in the area East of Kapran, in the mountains, where these terrorists were reportedly holed up,” he said.
