On October 8 evening, the body of an Indian soldier, who went missing since the afternoon, was found in the Sanglan forest area of South Kashmir’s Anantnag district. Sources said that the deceased soldier was identified as Territorial Army officer Hilal Ahmad Bhat from Mukhdampora Nowgam with multiple bullet injuries.
Soon after his disappearance, local police and the army mounted a massive search operation in the area. The police have launched an inquiry into the facts that led to Bhat’s abduction and eventual killing.
The Chinar Corps of the Indian Army confirmed on X that a joint counter-terrorist operation was conducted, acting on intelligence inputs. The operation carried out in concert with the Jammu and Kashmir Police and other agencies in the Kazwan Forest area of Kokernag, went into the night after the report of Bhat’s disappearance. “A massive rescue and search operation is in progress,” said the Army.
It is also learned that terrorists abducted two Territorial Army soldiers in the same forest on October 8. One of them managed to flee after receiving two bullet injuries and was taken to a medical facility, where his condition is reportedly stable.
This incident has come just a day after the announcement of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly election results, thereby giving a fresh reason to increase the security tensions in the already volatile region.
