Bharatpedia

2023 Anantnag encounter

On 13 September 2023, a confrontation erupted between security forces and The Resistance Front in the Anantnag district.[16] Two Army officers and a police official were killed during the encounter on first day. The operation persisted into the following day, with the deployment of drone surveillance and the initiation of search operations aimed at capturing the militants involved.[17]

2023 Anantnag Encounter
Part of Insurgency in Jammu and Kashmir
Date13 September 2023 (ongoing)
Location
Anantnag, Jammu and Kashmir
Status

Ongoing

  • TRF claimed responsibility for an killing of Top Indian Security officers[3][4] in the Anantnag district using the guerilla warfare strategy, citing it as an "act of revenge" for the killing of their leader, LeT commander Riyaz Ahmed in Pakistan-administered Kashmir.[5][6]
  • Indian Army Deploys Rocket launchers, Drones and Helicopters As Anantnag Gunbattle Gets Fierce, militants Hideout Destroyed.[7][8]
Belligerents
Indian Army
J&K Police		 The Resistance Front (TRF)
Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT)[1][2]
Commanders and leaders
Top officials of Army and Police[lower-alpha 1] Uzair Khan (LeT commander)[10][11]
Ghazi khan (Who Killed Top indian Security officers, TRF claim)[12]
Basit Ahmed Dar (Chief operational Commander of TRF, Indian claim)[13]
Hafiz Yawar Bashir Dar (Local kashmiri militant of TRF, Indian claim)[14]
Strength
No figures disclosed 28 (12 Pakistani and 16 kashmiri locals, Indian claim)[15]
Casualties and losses
6 (As of 17 September 2023) 0 (As of 17 September 2023)

The Resistance Front has claimed responsibility for the encounter.[18][19] The Resistance Front emerged in 2019, following the abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir. This group is notorious for its participation in various acts of terrorism within the region and has presented a significant challenge to security forces operating in the area.[20][18]

A soldier was reported missing on 15 September at the encounter site but has since been found dead.[21]

BackgroundEdit

The encounter commenced when security forces initiated a counter-terrorism operation in the Gadole area of Kokernag Tehsil within the Anantnag district, targeting the location where militants were believed to be hiding.[22] The operation was initiated on the evening of 12 September 2023 but was temporarily halted during the night. It was then resumed on 13 September following the receipt of information indicating that they had been spotted at a hideout.[23] The Indian military has reported that they have cordoned off an area where two Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) militants are believed to be located. One of them has been identified as Uzair Khan.[24][25]

CasualtiesEdit

The tragic casualties resulting from the encounter included an Indian Army Colonel–a 41-year-old commanding officer of the 19 Rashtriya Rifles, a Major, a Deputy Superintendent of the Jammu and Kashmir Police and a soldier.[26][27]

NotesEdit

  1. ↑ Top Brass including GOC 15 Corps Rajiv Ghai, DGP Dilbagh Singh, and ADGP Kashmir Vijay Kumar, along with other top officials, were present at the encounter site.[9]

ReferencesEdit

  1. ↑ "'Avenged leader's killing in POK': Terror group after 2 Army officers, cop killed in Anantnag".
  2. ↑ "Anantnag Encounter: Lashkar Terrorist Uzair Khan, Associates Trapped; Firing Underway | Details". 14 September 2023.
  3. ↑ "Anantnag encounter: Four dead, security forces' anti-terrorist operation continues".
  4. ↑ "India: Army Colonel, Major, DSP of J&K Police killed in Anantnag gunfight". WION.
  5. ↑ "Why Pakistan-backed The Resistance Front has become biggest headache of security forces in Kashmir". India Today. Retrieved 16 September 2023.
  6. ↑ "Why The Resistance Front was under terror watch in Kashmir". India Today. Retrieved 16 September 2023.
  7. ↑ "Why Pakistan-backed The Resistance Front has become biggest headache of security forces in Kashmir". India Today. Retrieved 16 September 2023.
  8. ↑ "Why The Resistance Front was under terror watch in Kashmir". India Today. Retrieved 16 September 2023.
  9. ↑ Desk, KO Web (13 September 2023). "Top Security Brass At Kokernag Encounter Site". Kashmir Observer. Retrieved 16 September 2023.
  10. ↑ "'Avenged leader's killing in POK': Terror group after 2 Army officers, cop killed in Anantnag".
  11. ↑ "Anantnag Encounter: Lashkar Terrorist Uzair Khan, Associates Trapped; Firing Underway | Details". 14 September 2023.
  12. ↑ "Lashkar Shadow Group TRF Releases First Images Of Terrorist Involved In Anantnag Encounter". YouTube. Retrieved 17 September 2023.
  13. ↑ "Anantnag encounter LIVE updates: Faceoff between Army-terrorists continues for over 100 hours 28 terrorists present in Anantnag, Kulgam, says report". Retrieved 17 September 2023.
  14. ↑ "Anantnag encounter LIVE updates: Faceoff between Army-terrorists continues for over 100 hours 28 terrorists present in Anantnag, Kulgam, says report". Retrieved 17 September 2023.
  15. ↑ "Anantnag encounter LIVE updates: Faceoff between Army-terrorists continues for over 100 hours 28 terrorists present in Anantnag, Kulgam, says report". Retrieved 17 September 2023.
  16. ↑ "2 Army officers, DSP killed in ongoing gunfight with terrorists in J-K's Anantnag". The Tribune (India). Retrieved 16 September 2023.
  17. ↑ Ashiq, Peerzada. "Anantnag operation resumes, two LeT militants encircled: police". The Hindu – via www.thehindu.com.
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 "What is the Resistance Front, responsible for killing of 3 security officers in J&K's Anantnag?". 14 September 2023.
  19. ↑ "The Resistance Front (TRF): Major Challenge for Kashmir Security Post Article 370, Behind Anantnag Gunfight". 14 September 2023.
  20. ↑ "Positioning The Resistance Front (TRF) in Kashmir's militancy landscape | ORF".
  21. ↑ "Anantnag encounter: Soldier who went missing during operations found dead - The Week". www.theweek.in. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
  22. ↑ "Fresh Firing in Anantnag Day, After 3 Security Officers Killed. Farooq Abdullah Targets Centre". 14 September 2023.
  23. ↑ Ashiq, Peerzada (13 September 2023). "Two Army officers, one J&K Police DSP killed in Anantnag encounter". The Hindu.
  24. ↑ "'Avenged leader's killing in POK': Terror group after 2 Army officers, cop killed in Anantnag".
  25. ↑ "Anantnag Encounter: Lashkar Terrorist Uzair Khan, Associates Trapped; Firing Underway | Details". 14 September 2023.
  26. ↑ "Anantnag encounter: Four dead, security forces' anti-terrorist operation continues".
  27. ↑ "India: Army Colonel, Major, DSP of J&K Police killed in Anantnag gunfight". WION.
Retrieved from "https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?title=2023_Anantnag_encounter&oldid=428148"