Inside Jammu And Kashmir Encounter: Battling Challenges Of Terrain And Terrorists

The intense encounter in Jammu and Kashmir’s Anantnag district, Where security forces find themselves in a daunting situation, trapped between dense forests and a hill on one side and a deep ditch on the other in Jammu and Kashmir’s Anantnag district. They are locked in a prolonged encounter with terrorists who have an ample supply of arms, ammunition, and food, and who possess a deep understanding of the terrain.

Adding to the complexity, the terrorists have taken refuge in a cave atop the hill, accessible only via a narrow path with a perilous drop on one side. Highly placed sources within the security forces have revealed that it was this treacherous route and the visibility provided by the cave that led to the tragic loss of Colonel Manpreet Singh, Major Aashish Dhonchak, and Deputy Superintendent of Police Himayun Bhat.

Operation Began

The operation began when intelligence indicated terrorists hiding in the Gadul forests of Kokernag. The joint team of Army and police personnel launched a search operation but couldn’t locate the terrorists. Subsequently, they received information about the terrorists’ presence on the hill.

Forces initiated their attack

The forces initiated their attack in the early hours of Wednesday, facing challenging conditions on the narrow path, compounded by pitch darkness. As they approached the cave, the terrorists opened fire indiscriminately, leaving the personnel with little cover and no means of retaliation.
Colonel Singh, Major Dhonchak, and Deputy SP Bhat sustained injuries during the gunfire. The difficult terrain and constant threat made it impossible to extract them until morning.

Standoff

The standoff has continued for nearly 72 hours, with the forces surrounding the hill. Drones are being used to drop explosives, rocket launchers are deployed, and personnel are engaged in firing. However, due to the challenging geography, complete control of the area has not been achieved.

Unusual Nature of Terrorists

According to inside sources, it is likely that there are more than the initially reported two to three terrorists involved in the encounter. One of them is Uzair Khan, who joined Lashkar-e-Taiba just last year. Khan possesses extensive knowledge of the area, providing the terrorists with a significant advantage.

These are not typical terrorists; they are exceptionally well-trained and equipped with high-quality weapons. The prolonged duration of the encounter raises suspicions, leading to questions about potential informants betraying the forces or leaks regarding their movements. Consequently, bringing this operation to a close has become an exceptionally challenging task, as acknowledged by a source close to the situation.

Ambush Hypothesis

Despite one soldier missing and at least two personnel injured, Additional Director General of Police (Kashmir) Vijay Kumar cautioned retired police and Army officers against embracing the ‘ambush hypothesis.’

#KokernagEncounterUpdate: Rtd Police/Army officers should avoid “ Ambush Hypothesis”. It is a specific input based ops. Ops is in progress and all 2-3 trapped terrorists will be neutralised: ADGP Kashmir

— Kashmir Zone Police (@KashmirPolice) September 15, 2023

He emphasized that the ongoing operation is based on specific intelligence inputs and reassured that efforts are actively underway to neutralize all 2-3 trapped terrorists.”