In a significant operation near the Line of Control (LoC) in Uri, Baramulla district, the Indian Army and Jammu and Kashmir Police successfully thwarted a major infiltration attempt, resulting in the elimination of three terrorists. Brigadier PMS Dhillon, commander of the Pir Panjal Brigade, provided details of the operation on Saturday, where two terrorists were neutralized, and the retrieval of the third terrorist's body was impeded by firing from a nearby Pakistani post.
Dhillon stated, "Acting on specific intelligence inputs, a joint operation was launched today by the Indian Army and Jammu and Kashmir Police to foil an infiltration bid in Baramulla. Three terrorists attempted to infiltrate and were engaged by vigilant troops. While two terrorists were eliminated, and their bodies were recovered, the third terrorist was also killed, but our efforts to retrieve the body were obstructed by gunfire from a Pakistani post in the vicinity. Search operations are currently ongoing."
According to an official statement by the Indian Army, the three terrorists attempted to infiltrate the Hathlanga forward area of Uri at 6:45 am. Upon being detected, they opened fire on the Army, initiating a fierce gunfight.
During the operation, two terrorists were successfully neutralized, and their bodies were retrieved. However, retrieval of the third terrorist's body was hindered as the Indian Army came under heavy fire from the Pakistan Army across the border.
Earlier reports from Jammu and Kashmir Police had initially confirmed the elimination of two terrorists, with the search operation continuing.
This incident occurred amidst an ongoing operation in Anantnag district, where security forces are engaged in neutralizing terrorists who have taken positions in the forested hilly terrain. The operation has entered its fourth day as security forces work to eliminate an estimated two to three trapped terrorists.
Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) Kashmir Vijay Kumar emphasized that this operation is based on specific intelligence inputs and cautioned against making assumptions, stating, "Retired Police/Army officers should avoid 'Ambush Hypothesis.' It is a specific input-based operation. Operations are in progress, and all 2-3 trapped terrorists will be neutralized."
The Indian Army has maintained a stringent cordon in the area, with ongoing developments indicating the loss of life of a soldier who had been reported missing earlier in the encounter.
Tragically, an Army colonel in the Rashtriya Rifles lost his life during the ongoing gunfight in Anantnag district, while an Army major and a deputy superintendent of the Jammu and Kashmir Police also succumbed to enemy fire in the Kokernag area. The fallen senior officers were identified as Colonel Manpreet Singh, Major Ashish Dhonak, and DSP Humayun Bhat.
