Three senior security officers including an Army Colonel, Major and a Deputy Superintendent of Police were killed in a gunfight with terrorists in Kokernag area of Anantnag in Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday.
This is the biggest hit security forces took in Kashmir this year.
A security official said a contingent of army’s 19 Rashtria Rifles, police and paramilitary CRPF men laid siege around Gadole area of Kokernag in Anantnag district on Tuesday evening after receiving inputs about the presence of terrorists there.
He said when the security men led by the officers began a search operation in the morning today, they came under heavy fire from militants hiding inside.
In the militant firing, three security officials identified as Colonel Manpreet Singh, Major Aashish Dhonchak and Deputy Superintendent of Police Himayun Bhat were critically injured.
The trio was evacuated to army hospital Srinagar, where they succumbed to injuries.
Col Manpreet Singh was Commanding Officer of 19 RR and was awarded the Sena Medal of 19 RR 12 SIKHLI in 2021.
DySP Himayun Bhat is son of retired DIG Ghulam Hassan Bhat
Top police and army officers including Director General of Police Dilbag Singh and General Officer Commanding 15 Corps Lt Gen Rajiv Ghai rushed to the Kokernag area to supervise the operation against militants.
Additional forces were rushed to the area to tighten the siege and prevent the militants from escaping from the area.
Army has pressed helicopters and drones into action for aerial surveillance and to pinpoint the exact location of the holed up terrorists.
The security officials said they suspect that 2-3 well armed terrorists are holed up in the area and the operation was going on when reports last poured in.
This is the second encounter in J&K in last 24 hours.
The killing of security officials has evoked widespread condemnation.
Lt Governor Manoj Sinha and political leaders of Jammu and Kashmir strongly condemned the killing of security officials and expressed their sympathies with the bereaved families.