2023 Anantnag encounter

2023-09-17T15:21:40Z

182.182.2.102:

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{{Infobox military conflict
| conflict = 2023 Anantnag Encounter
| partof = [[Insurgency in Jammu and Kashmir]]
| image =
| caption =
| date = 13 September 2023 (ongoing)
| place = [[Anantnag]], Jammu and Kashmir
| coordinates =
| status = [[List of ongoing armed conflicts|Ongoing]]
* TRF claimed responsibility for an killing of Top Indian Security officers<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.onmanorama.com/news/india/2023/09/15/anantnag-encounter-four-dead-and-anti-terrorist-operation-by-security-forces-continues.html | title=Anantnag encounter: Four dead, security forces' anti-terrorist operation continues }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wionews.com/videos/india-army-colonel-major-dsp-of-jk-police-killed-in-anantnag-gunfight-635810|title=India: Army Colonel, Major, DSP of J&K Police killed in Anantnag gunfight|website=WION}}</ref> 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 [[Azad Kashmir|Pakistan-administered Kashmir]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Why Pakistan-backed The Resistance Front has become biggest headache of security forces in Kashmir |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/the-resistance-front-trf-let-lashkar-e-taiba-front-most-active-anantnag-encounter-2435627-2023-09-14 |access-date=16 September 2023 |website=India Today |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Why The Resistance Front was under terror watch in Kashmir |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india-today-insight/story/why-the-resistance-front-was-under-terror-watch-in-kashmir-2318904-2023-01-08 |access-date=16 September 2023 |website=India Today |language=en}}</ref>
* [[Indian Army]] Deploys Rocket launchers, Drones and Helicopters As Anantnag Gunbattle Gets Fierce, militants Hideout Destroyed.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Why Pakistan-backed The Resistance Front has become biggest headache of security forces in Kashmir |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/the-resistance-front-trf-let-lashkar-e-taiba-front-most-active-anantnag-encounter-2435627-2023-09-14 |access-date=16 September 2023 |website=India Today |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Why The Resistance Front was under terror watch in Kashmir |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india-today-insight/story/why-the-resistance-front-was-under-terror-watch-in-kashmir-2318904-2023-01-08 |access-date=16 September 2023 |website=India Today |language=en}}</ref>
| result =
| territory =
| combatant1 = [[Indian Army]] [[J&K Police]]
| combatant2 = [[The Resistance Front]] (TRF) [[Lashkar-e-Taiba]] (LeT)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/anantnag-kokernag-encounter-revenge-riyaz-ahmed-killing-pok-lashkar-the-resistance-front-2435471-2023-09-14 | title='Avenged leader's killing in POK': Terror group after 2 Army officers, cop killed in Anantnag }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/videos/news/anantnag-encounter-lashkar-terrorist-uzair-khan-associates-trapped-firing-underway-details-101694702510114.html | title=Anantnag Encounter: Lashkar Terrorist Uzair Khan, Associates Trapped; Firing Underway | Details | date=14 September 2023 }}</ref>
| commander1 = Top officials of Army and Police{{efn|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.<ref>{{cite web | last=Desk | first=KO Web | title=Top Security Brass At Kokernag Encounter Site | website=Kashmir Observer | date=13 September 2023 |url=https://kashmirobserver.net/2023/09/13/top-security-brass-at-kokernag-encounter-site/ | access-date=16 September 2023}}</ref>}}
| commander2 = Uzair Khan (LeT commander)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/anantnag-kokernag-encounter-revenge-riyaz-ahmed-killing-pok-lashkar-the-resistance-front-2435471-2023-09-14 | title='Avenged leader's killing in POK': Terror group after 2 Army officers, cop killed in Anantnag }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/videos/news/anantnag-encounter-lashkar-terrorist-uzair-khan-associates-trapped-firing-underway-details-101694702510114.html | title=Anantnag Encounter: Lashkar Terrorist Uzair Khan, Associates Trapped; Firing Underway | Details | date=14 September 2023 }}</ref> Ghazi khan (Who Killed Top indian Security officers, TRF claim)<ref>{{Cite web|title=Lashkar Shadow Group TRF Releases First Images Of Terrorist Involved In Anantnag Encounter|website=[[YouTube]]|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IOGNqGV3CII|access-date=17 September 2023}}</ref> Basit Ahmed Dar (Chief operational Commander of TRF, Indian claim)<ref>{{Cite web|title=Anantnag encounter LIVE updates: Faceoff between Army-terrorists continues for over 100 hours 28 terrorists present in Anantnag, Kulgam, says report|url=https://www.livemint.com/news/india/anantnag-encounter-live-updates-search-ops-continues-for-4th-day-trapped-terrorists-will-be-neutralised-says-police-11694832747100.html|access-date=17 September 2023}}</ref> Hafiz Yawar Bashir Dar (Local kashmiri militant of TRF, Indian claim)<ref>{{Cite web|title=Anantnag encounter LIVE updates: Faceoff between Army-terrorists continues for over 100 hours 28 terrorists present in Anantnag, Kulgam, says report|url=https://www.livemint.com/news/india/anantnag-encounter-live-updates-search-ops-continues-for-4th-day-trapped-terrorists-will-be-neutralised-says-police-11694832747100.html|access-date=17 September 2023}}</ref>
| strength1 = No figures disclosed
| strength2 = 28 (12 Pakistani and 16 kashmiri locals, Indian claim)<ref>{{Cite web|title=Anantnag encounter LIVE updates: Faceoff between Army-terrorists continues for over 100 hours 28 terrorists present in Anantnag, Kulgam, says report|url=https://www.livemint.com/news/india/anantnag-encounter-live-updates-search-ops-continues-for-4th-day-trapped-terrorists-will-be-neutralised-says-police-11694832747100.html|access-date=17 September 2023}}</ref>
| casualties1 = 6 ({{As of|2023|9|17}})
| casualties2 = 0 ({{As of|2023|9|17}})
}}

On 13 September 2023, a confrontation erupted between security forces and [[The Resistance Front]] in the [[Anantnag district]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/j-k/2-security-officers-injured-in-kashmir-encounter-543993|title=2 Army officers, DSP killed in ongoing gunfight with terrorists in J-K's Anantnag |website=[[The Tribune (India)]]|access-date=16 September 2023}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/two-let-terrorists-encircled-by-jk-police-in-anantnag/article67306002.ece|title=Anantnag operation resumes, two LeT militants encircled: police|first=Peerzada|last=Ashiq|newspaper=The Hindu |via=www.thehindu.com}}</ref>

[[The Resistance Front]] has claimed responsibility for the encounter.<ref name="auto">{{cite web |url=https://www.firstpost.com/explainers/anantnag-encounter-what-is-the-resistance-front-responsible-for-killing-of-3-security-officers-in-jk-13124322.html | title=What is the Resistance Front, responsible for killing of 3 security officers in J&K's Anantnag? | date=14 September 2023 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.timesnownews.com/india/the-resistance-front-trf-major-challenge-for-kashmir-security-post-article-370-behind-anantnag-gunfight-article-103668082 | title=The Resistance Front (TRF): Major Challenge for Kashmir Security Post Article 370, Behind Anantnag Gunfight | date=14 September 2023 }}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.orfonline.org/expert-speak/positioning-the-resistance-front-trf-in-kashmirs-militancy-landscape/|title=Positioning The Resistance Front (TRF) in Kashmir's militancy landscape | ORF}}</ref><ref name="auto"/>

A soldier was reported missing on 15 September at the encounter site but has since been found dead.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Anantnag encounter: Soldier who went missing during operations found dead - The Week |url=https://www.theweek.in/news/india/2023/09/15/anantnag-encounter-soldier-who-went-missing-during-operations-found-dead.amp.html |access-date=15 September 2023 |website=www.theweek.in}}</ref>

==Background==
The encounter commenced when security forces initiated a counter-terrorism operation in the Gadole area of [[Kokernag|Kokernag Tehsil]] within the [[Anantnag district]], targeting the location where militants were believed to be hiding.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://news.abplive.com/news/india/anantnag-encounter-live-updates-indian-army-officer-terrorist-killed-jammu-kashmir-police-news-1629571 | title=Fresh Firing in Anantnag Day, After 3 Security Officers Killed. Farooq Abdullah Targets Centre | date=14 September 2023 }}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/fresh-encounter-erupts-as-security-forces-widen-search-operation-in-jammu-and-kashmirs-rajouri/article67302278.ece | title=Two Army officers, one J&K Police DSP killed in Anantnag encounter | newspaper=The Hindu | date=13 September 2023 | last1=Ashiq | first1=Peerzada }}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/anantnag-kokernag-encounter-revenge-riyaz-ahmed-killing-pok-lashkar-the-resistance-front-2435471-2023-09-14 | title='Avenged leader's killing in POK': Terror group after 2 Army officers, cop killed in Anantnag }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/videos/news/anantnag-encounter-lashkar-terrorist-uzair-khan-associates-trapped-firing-underway-details-101694702510114.html | title=Anantnag Encounter: Lashkar Terrorist Uzair Khan, Associates Trapped; Firing Underway | Details | date=14 September 2023 }}</ref>

==Casualties==
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.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.onmanorama.com/news/india/2023/09/15/anantnag-encounter-four-dead-and-anti-terrorist-operation-by-security-forces-continues.html | title=Anantnag encounter: Four dead, security forces' anti-terrorist operation continues }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wionews.com/videos/india-army-colonel-major-dsp-of-jk-police-killed-in-anantnag-gunfight-635810|title=India: Army Colonel, Major, DSP of J&K Police killed in Anantnag gunfight|website=WION}}</ref>

==Notes==
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==References==
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[[Category:2023 in India]]
[[Category:Conflicts in 2023]]
[[Category:Terrorist incidents in India in 2023]]
[[Category:Military operations involving India]]

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2023 Anantnag encounter