Hunt for perpetrators continues as nation mourns J&K heroes

A manhunt was underway on Thursday for the group the terrorists responsible for the ambush-style killings of two army officers and a deputy superintendent of police in Jammu and Kashmir’s Anantnag district a day earlier, with the hot pursuit involving some of the army’s finest fighting men, including those from the special forces, counterterrorism specialists from the Jammu and Kashmir Police, dog squads, modern surveillance equipment, jammers and drones to prevent the terrorists from giving security forces the slip, officials tracking the developments said

- Rahul Singh , Mir Ehsan

Colonel Manpreet Singh, the commanding officer of 19 Rashtriya Rifles, Major Ashish Dhonchak, also from the same battalion, and DSP Humayun Muzamil Bhat were killed in a gunfight on Wednesday while leading teams that were hunting for the terrorists who were lying in wait in concealed positions in the dense Garol forest at Kokernag in Anantnag. Two soldiers were also injured in the terror strike, HT has learnt.

The security forces managed to close in on two Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists on Thursday after reinforcements were brought in, with top army and police officers monitoring the anti-terror operation.

“In solemn tribute to the valour of Col Manpreet Singh, Major Ashish Dhonchak and DSP Humayun Bhat, who laid down their lives leading from the front during this ongoing operation, our forces persist with unwavering resolve as they encircle 2 LeT terrorists, including Uzair Khan,” the J&K Police wrote on X.

Khan, who knows the lay of the land, joined LeT only last year but quickly climbed up the terror ranks to become a so-called commander.

All likely escape routes were sealed, the officials said.