Week-Long Anantnag Encounter Ends, LeT Commander Among 2 Terrorists Gunned Down

Srinagar: The seven-day-long anti-terrorist operation in the Garol forests in the Anantnag district ended on Tuesday. However, the security forces will continue the search operation in the area.

According to Jammu and Kashmir police authorities, the body recovered from the encounter site on Monday has been identified as that of Lashkar-e-Taiba commander Uzair Khan. The body of another terrorist seen in the area has not been recovered.

It was suspected that two-three terrorists were hiding in the area and were involved in the encounter, so the search is on to track down the third terrorist.

Locals were warned not to venture into the area as as there may be live grenades and shells.

The operation started on Wednesday when Colonel Manpreet Singh, commanding officer, 19 Rashtriya Rifles, Major Ashish Dhonchak and deputy superintendent of Jammu and Kashmir Police Humayun Bhat were killed by terrorists. The body of another soldier Pradeep, who had gone missing on the first day of the encounter, was recovered on Monday.

The terrorists were holed up in several cave-like hideouts in the dense forest area in the hilly region.