On Saturday, a fierce gunfight between security forces and terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir’s Anantnag district resulted in the deaths of two soldiers and one civilian. The encounter, which took place in the Kokernag forest area, also left three other soldiers injured.
The fallen soldiers, Havildar Dipak Kumar Yadav and Lance Naik Praveen Sharma, sacrificed their lives in the line of duty. Tragically, a civilian who was injured in the crossfire succumbed to his injuries in the hospital.
In an official statement, the Indian Army expressed deep sorrow over the loss: “Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi and all ranks of the Indian Army salute the supreme sacrifice of the two bravehearts. The Indian Army offers its deepest condolences and stands firm with the bereaved families in this hour of grief.”
The security forces launched the operation after receiving specific intelligence about terrorist activity in the South Kashmir forest area. During the anti-terror operations in Kokernag, terrorists ambushed the army patrol, leading to the deadly encounter.
The Indian Army’s Chinar Corps confirmed the incident on social media, stating, “Based on specific intelligence input, a joint operation was launched by the Army, Jammu and Kashmir Police, and CRPF today in the general area of Kokernag, Anantnag. Contact was established, and a firefight ensued. Two personnel have been injured and evacuated from the area. Operation is in progress.”
Following the gunbattle, security forces resumed their anti-terror operations in the area on Sunday.
This incident follows another encounter two weeks ago, where an Indian soldier was killed and four others, including a major, were injured as the Army thwarted an attack by Pakistan’s Border Action Team (BAT) along the Line of Control in Kupwara. Additionally, a prior encounter in Doda district claimed the lives of four Army personnel and a police officer, with the attack being claimed by the ‘Kashmir Tigers,’ a proxy group of the Pakistan-backed Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM).
