Kashmir: The Resistance Front, an offshoot of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), claimed responsibility for the attack in Kokernag, Kashmir, which they said was in retaliation for the killing of their senior leader, LeT commander Riyaz Ahmed (codenamed Qasim), in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (POK).
Qasim met his end on September 8, brutally shot inside the Al-Qudus mosque in Rawalakot. It is believed that Qasim's death incited his followers, leading to this devastating act of violence in Kokernag.
Two Indian Army officers and a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) lost their lives during a fierce gunfight with terrorists in Kokernag, located in Jammu and Kashmir's Anantnag district. The deadly encounter unfolded during a joint anti-insurgency operation coordinated between the J&K Police and the Army.
The officers who made the sacrifice have been identified as Colonel Manpreet Singh, who served as the Commanding Officer of the 19 Rashtriya Rifles, Major Ashish Dhonack, and DSP Humayun Bhat. Colonel Singh succumbed to his injuries on the spot, while Major Dhonack and DSP Bhat fought valiantly but later succumbed to their wounds.
The joint operation in Kokernag took a harrowing turn as the officers, despite immediate reinforcements, found themselves trapped under heavy gunfire from well-entrenched terrorists.
In response to this, a counter-terrorism operation is currently underway in Anantnag. The Jammu and Kashmir Police have reported that they have "encircled" two LeT terrorists, with one of them identified as Uzair Khan.
The authorities are committed to bringing those responsible for this heinous attack to justice, ensuring that their reign of terror is dismantled.
The nation mourns the loss of Colonel Manpreet Singh, Major Ashish Dhonack, and DSP Humayun Bhat, who laid down their lives while leading from the front in the ongoing battle against terrorism.