Army Colonel, Major And A J&K Police Officer Among Three Dead In A Counter Terror Operation In Jammu And Kashmir's Anantnag

In a tragic turn of events, three security force officers, including an Army Colonel, lost their lives in a firefight with terrorists in the Kokernag area of Kashmir's Anantnag district.

The incident occurred today (13 September), as reported by officials in Srinagar.

The fallen heroes in this operation were Colonel Manpreet Singh, Major Ashish, and Deputy Superintendent of Jammu and Kashmir Police, Humayun Bhat.

They sustained critical injuries during the gunfight and, sadly, did not survive. Mr. Bhat, in particular, succumbed to severe blood loss, according to sources.

The operation against the terrorists had commenced on the evening of September 12th in the Gadool area but was temporarily halted during the night.

On the morning of September 13th, as information began to surface about the terrorists' presence at a hideout, the hunt resumed. Colonel Singh, displaying exceptional leadership, led his team in an attack against the terrorists.

Tragically, during the engagement, he sustained critical injuries when the terrorists opened fire.

Initial reports indicated that two to three militants were located and surrounded in Gadool based on a tip-off. As the joint team of security forces, consisting of Army and police personnel, conducted a search operation, they came under fire from the concealed militants.

Meanwhile, in Jammu's Rajouri, security forces achieved success on September 13th by eliminating another militant in the Narla area, where an encounter had initiated the previous day.

Officials reported renewed gunfire at the encounter site on the morning of September 13th. To date, two militants have been neutralized during this operation.

Tragically, one soldier also lost his life in the midst of the encounter. The Army identified the fallen soldier as Rifleman Ravi and paid tribute to his unwavering dedication and service to the nation, stating that he would always be remembered.

In addition to Rifleman Ravi, an Army dog named Kent from the 21 Army Dog Unit also lost her life during the ongoing operation in Rajouri.

The six year old female Labrador was leading a column of soldiers on the trail of fleeing terrorists. The canine came down under heavy hostile fire and laid down her life while shielding her handler.