Jammu and Kashmir's Anantnag district is currently in a state of high alert. Following an attack that tragically took the lives of two Army officers and a high-ranking police official, security forces are intently focused on neutralizing the terrorists involved. The hunt resumed on Thursday morning, with the terrorists and a local operative of Lashkar-e-Taiba known as Uzair Khan encircled in the forested region of Kokernag. 

Anantnag in Turmoil 

In an unfortunate escalation of violence, a fierce gun battle on Wednesday resulted in the deaths of Colonel Manpreet Singh, Major Ashish Dhonack, and Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Humayun Bhat. Despite immediate reinforcements, rescue attempts were hampered by heavy terrorist gunfire. With soldiers leading from the front falling in the line of duty, the situation remains tense. 

Claimed by The Resistance Front 

"This act of brutality is an act of revenge. Our leader Riyaz Ahmed was viciously killed earlier this month in Pakistan-Occupied-Kashmir (POK). This retaliation sends a powerful message to those who dare to cross us," the Resistance Front announced, demonstrating once again their blatant disregard for human life.

More than Meets the Eye? 

Intelligence sources, however, suggest a slightly different narrative. They point towards a frightening collusion between terrorists from Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammed – the same group behind the earlier attack on five soldiers in Jammu's Poonch district in April. 

Joint Anti-insurgency Operation in Kokernag

The encounter in Kokernag took place during a joint operation between the Jammu and Kashmir Police and the Army. Colonel Singh, who served as Commanding Officer of 19 Rashtriya Rifles, tragically lost his life on the battlefield. Maj Dhonack and DSP Bhat, who were critically wounded, later succumbed to their injuries during treatment. 

A heart-rending scene unfolded in Budgam as DSP Humayun Bhat, father of a two-month-old daughter, was laid to rest. The funeral saw many turn up to pay tribute to the fallen police officer. 

A Call to Action

In light of these events, calls have been made for changes to the Government of India's policy on Kashmir. People's Democratic Party (PDP) Leader,Naeem Akhtar, for example, believes the current policies have proved ineffective. "There needs to be a change from the Centre, as the current policies have clearly not worked," he argued. 

  1. Farooq Abdullah, National Conference (NC) president, called for a dialogue between India and Pakistan to stop the bloodshed and make lasting peace in Jammu and Kashmir. However, he also criticized the BJP-led government, challenging their claim that terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir has been eradicated.

The loss of these courageous officers underscores the ongoing threat of terrorism in the region and the urgent necessity for a dedicated and intelligent approach to eradicate it. Search and rescue operation underway for missing submarine en route to Titanic wreckage