Kokernag: Security forces use mortars, RPGs to flush out militants

Besides the three officers who were killed on Wednesday — Colonel Manpreet Singh, Commanding Officer of 19 Rashtriya Rifles, Major Aashish Dhonchak and Deputy Superintendent of Police Himayun Muzamil Bhat — defence sources in Delhi said one soldier was reported to be missing. In its statement on Wednesday, the Army had said two other soldiers were also injured “in the ensuing operations”.

While intermittent firing and massive explosions from the mortar shells fired by the security forces continued through the day, there was no word on the militants who are suspected to be trapped inside the dense forests of Gadole, in Kokernag area of Anantnag district of South Kashmir.

Sources said that based on aerial surveillance by drones and quadcopters deployed in the area, at least two militants, including a local Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) operative identified as Uzair Khan, are suspected to be hiding in the forests.

From left: Colonel Manpreet Singh, Major Aashish Dhonchak and Deputy SP Himayun Muzamil Bhat

Under pressure after the casualties, J&K Police on Friday asked retired Army and police officers to “avoid ambush hypothesis”. “Retired police/ army officers should avoid ‘ambush hypothesis’. It is a specific input based ops. Ops in progress and all 2-3 trapped terrorists will be neutralised,” J&K Police tweeted, quoting Additional Director General of Police (ADGP), Kashmir, Vijay Kumar.

“It is a very dense forest but the drone footage has given some clues about a possible militant hideout,” said a source, adding, “It is this footage that is being used to assist in firing of weapons”.

Heavy weapons, including mortar shells and rocket launchers, were used to target the suspected militant hideout. Senior Army and police officers personally monitored the operation — the longest military operation in the Valley in over a decade.

Manjit Kaur, mother of Colonel Manpreet Singh, in Bharaunjian village of Punjab’s Mohali district on Thursday. (Express photo by Jasbir Malhi)

While the Army was silent on the operational details, sources said the search was suspended for “strategic reasons” as it grew dark on Friday, but was resumed later after drones spotted some movement.

In Srinagar, Ghulam Hassan Bhat, retired IG of J&K Police, bids farewell to his son Himayun, the Dy SP who was among three officers killed in a gunbattle in Kokernag. (PTI)

“The Army resumed shelling the target with heavy weapons in the evening as drones detected some movement,” sources said. “It seemed that militants were trying to come out of the hideout.”

Officials have said that the joint team of Army and police personnel came under heavy fire on Wednesday during a search operation based on intelligence inputs about the presence of militants in the area.