J&K: Soldier went missing during special operation

Srinagar: The Army has launched a major combing operation in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch after two soldiers including a junior commissioned officer (JCO) went missing in an ongoing operation that started on Monday.

According to media reports, the JCO and a soldier went missing after the Army came under heavy firing from terrorists on Thursday evening. Two soldiers – Rifleman Yogambar Singh and rifleman Vikram Singh Negi – were killed in the encounter that erupted in Poonch-Rajouri forests, four days after five army personnel were killed in action in the same area.

Retrieving the bodies of the missing soldiers proved to be a major challenge for the Army as they had to advance cautiously deep inside forests to bring back the bodies.

Yesterday, the army confirmed the killing of two soldiers but there was no update on the injured JCO.

A senior officer said the operation to rescue the injured JCO will be launched in the morning. “We have not been able to retrieve the injured JCO. Searches will resume in the morning,” he said.Ads by 

A major offensive was launched this morning in Nar Khas forest area in Mendhar. Heavy firing and explosions were heard  in the area as the Army tries to flush out terrorists believed to be hiding in the deep in the forests.

The Army launched a combing operation in Dera Ki Gali on Monday after receiving information about the presence of terrorists there. In the initial shootout, five soldiers including a junior Commissioned Officer (JCO) were killed.

Reinforcement was rushed to the area and since then the army is engaged in one of longest counter terrorist operations. So far no terrorists have been killed as the encounter entered sixth day today.