Daijiworld Media Network - Srinagar
Srinagar, Oct 8: Two army personnel have reportedly gone missing during an ongoing anti-terrorist operation in the Kokernag area of Anantnag district, Jammu and Kashmir, official sources said on Wednesday.
The soldiers were part of a team conducting a cordon and search operation (CASO) in the higher reaches of Kokernag on Tuesday, but lost contact with their unit amid inclement weather and difficult terrain, worsened by recent snowfall.
“They may have strayed from their team due to poor visibility and rugged conditions in the dense forest area,” a source said.
A massive search operation is underway, involving ground troops, helicopters, and personnel from the army, J&K Police, and other security agencies to locate the missing soldiers.
While there is no official confirmation yet from the army about the missing personnel, sources maintain that efforts are being made on a war footing to re-establish contact.
This incident comes as joint forces intensify operations in J&K aimed at dismantling terror networks, including their overground workers (OGWs) and financial support systems.
Security agencies, including the State Investigation Agency (SIA), NIA, ED, and the Crime Branch, have been targeting not just active terrorists, but also those involved in drug smuggling, hawala networks, and economic crimes, believed to be funding terrorism in the Union Territory.
The situation in Kokernag remains tense, with search operations continuing under challenging weather conditions.