Four Indian security force officers, among them an army colonel and major, met their tragic end during a fierce gunfight in the Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday. Alongside them, two Kashmiri militants also met their demise.
Tragically, a separate armed confrontation claimed the life of yet another Indian soldier.
The fatal encounter involving the Indian security personnel unfolded in the Anantnag region of the Indian occupied Kashmir.
This intense face-off erupted when the Indian security forces crossed paths with militants concealed within the Kokernag area of Anantnag district, as confirmed by an Indian police official.
In the line of duty, this brave team of security personnel had been in hot pursuit of the hidden militants. It was within the confines of a building that two to three militants, lying in wait, unleashed a volley of gunfire, as reported by Indian media outlets.
Colonel Manpreet, the esteemed commanding officer of the 19 Rashtraya Rifles, tragically lost his life on the spot. Major Aashish and DSP Humayun Bhat, no less valiant in their service, sustained grievous gunshot wounds. These wounded heroes were hastily airlifted to a hospital in Srinagar, where, despite the best efforts of medical professionals, they ultimately succumbed to their injuries.
In a separate incident that unfolded in Rajouri, yet another Indian soldier paid the ultimate price.
The heart-wrenching loss of three officers, including a commanding officer, has sent shockwaves through the Indian administration in the valley. This dire situation prompted the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the 15th Corps, responsible for overseeing the occupied Kashmir, to swiftly journey to Anantnag.
Regrettably, this grim episode adds to a growing list of security challenges faced in the occupied Kashmir, where similar incidents in April and August of the preceding year saw the sacrifice of Indian soldiers at the hands of unidentified gunmen and militants, respectively