Col Manpreet Singh (SM), Major Aashish Dhonchak and DSP Himanyu Muzamil Bhat were killed in action
A colonel, a major of a Rashtriya Rifles unit of the army and a Deputy Superintendent of Jammu and Kashmir Police were killed in action during an encounter with terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir's Anantnag district today, officials said.
Colonel Manpreet Singh, Major Aashish Dhonchak and Deputy Superintendent of Police Himanyun Muzamil Bhat were killed in action during the gunfight. Colonel Manpreet Singh was the commanding officer of the 19 Rashtriya Rifles (19 RR) unit and is a recipient of the prestigious Sena Medal (SM).
Rashtriya Rifles is the counter-insurgency force of the army that operates in Jammu and Kashmir.
Himayun Muzamil Bhat's father, Ghulam Hassan Bhat, a retired Inspector General (IG) of Jammu and Kashmir police laid a wreath on his son's body
"Deeply saddened by the terrible loss of three young bravehearts Col. Manpreet Singh, Major Ashish Dhonack of 19 RR & DySP Humayun Muzamil Bhat son of retired IG of J&K Police Shri Ghulam Hassan Bhat," Director General of Jammu and Kashmir Police Dilbag Singh said.
Jammu and Kashmir Lt Governor Manoj Singh paid tribute to Deputy Superintendent of Police Himanyun Muzamil Bhat and laid a wreath on his body.
The body of the police officer and the two army officers were retrieved from the dense forests of the Kokernag area of Anantnag.
Lt Gen Rajiv Ghai, Army's 15 Corps commander and Director General of Jammu and Kashmir Police Dilbag Singh are among the top officials who have rushed to the encounter site to supervise the operation and evacuation of bodies.
Earlier, the Cheetah helicopters of the army were pressed into action for surveillance and evacuation operation at the encounter site.
Sources say a joint operation was launched by the army and police late last night after they received specific information about the presence of terrorists and the encounter started in the early hours of Wednesday.
The troops led by the commanding officer and a deputy superintendent of Jammu and Kashmir police came under heavy firing.
The three officers were critically injured. Reinforcement was immediately rushed to the area but due to heavy firing from terrorists, who are believed to be well entrenched, the injured couldn't be evacuated immediately, sources said.
This is the second encounter in the last 24 hours. Earlier one army soldier was killed in action and three security forces personnel were injured during a fierce encounter with terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir's Rajouri district, police said.
Two terrorists were also killed in the encounter. The operation in Rajouri is still underway.