JAMMU Sept 13: In an encounter with militants in the Gadole neighbourhood of Kokernag in South Kashmir’s Anantnag district, a Colonel of the Army, a Major, and the Deputy Superintendent of Police lost their lives.They have been identified as Colonel Manpreet Singh, who served as the 19 RR’s commanding officer, Major Aashish Dhonchak, and Humayun Bhat, the DySP for the Jammu and Kashmir Police. They were evacuated to Srinagar after suffering critical wounds in the shootout. However, they all gave in.According to an official, a joint team of the police and the army began a search and cordon operation in Gadole Kokernag yesterday based on specific information regarding the presence of terrorists. He claimed that the tough terrain and darkness caused the operation to be suspended last night. This morning, terrorists unleashed indiscriminate fire on the combined team commanded by Colonel Singh as they moved towards the target location, injuring an Army Colonel, a Major, and a DySP of Police. They later passed away from their wounds.A joint police-army team started a search and cordon operation in Gadole Kokernag yesterday, according to an official, based on specific information about the presence of terrorists. He asserted that the operation was put on hold last night due to the challenging terrain and darkness. An Army Colonel, a Major, and a DySP of Police were injured this morning as terrorists opened fire indiscriminately on the joint team led by Colonel Singh as they advanced towards the objective position. Later, they died from their wounds.
