Shillong, September 17: As the intense gunfight between security forces and terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir’s Anantnag district enters its fifth day, Northern Army Commander Lieutenant General Upendra Dwivedi has visited the site to assess the operational situation.
During his visit, Lt. Gen. Dwivedi received a briefing from ground commanders regarding the high-intensity operations.
As per India Today, these operations have utilized advanced technology for surveillance and precise delivery of firepower, resulting in a significant impact on the ongoing mission.
The encounter, which has been ongoing for the past four days, has witnessed the deployment of cutting-edge technology, including drones and helicopters, to track and neutralize the terrorists. Adverse weather conditions, including rain in Anantnag, extended the operation into Sunday.
As the operation resumed on Sunday morning, security forces launched several mortar shells towards the forest area. Intermittent firing continued throughout the night, with sources indicating that the terrorists are conserving their ammunition and not engaging in continuous firefights.
This operation is taking place in the dense forest area of Gadole in the Kokernag region of south Kashmir. Drones and helicopters have played a crucial role in surveillance, allowing the security forces to navigate the challenging hilly terrain and pinpoint the locations of the hidden terrorists within the forest.
On Saturday, security forces fired mortar shells towards the forest, targeting the cave-like hideouts where the terrorists have been sheltering. Despite the difficult terrain, the use of drones has enabled precise identification of these hideouts and facilitated targeted attacks.
Drone footage from Friday captured a militant seeking cover after one such hideout was struck by shells fired by the security forces.
The ongoing operation, which commenced on Wednesday, has resulted in the loss of four security personnel, including Colonel Manpreet Singh, Commanding Officer of the 19 Rashtriya Rifles, Major Ashish Dhonchak, Deputy Superintendent of Jammu and Kashmir Police Humayun Bhat, and a soldier. Despite these losses, the security forces remain determined to eliminate the two or three terrorists believed to be hiding in the forest area.