Anantnag Encounter: Last Rites Of Major Ashish Dhonchak Performed With State Honours In Panipat

Thousands of people gathered in Haryana's Panipat on Friday to pay last respects to Major Ashish Dhonchak who was martyred in a terrorist encounter in Jammu and Kashmir's Anantnag district.

Earlier today, people in huge number gathered outside the residence of Major Dhonchak. The mortal remains of Major Dhonchak was brought to his native village Panipat.

The officer fell to enemy fire during the encounter in the Kokernag area of Jammu and Kashmir's Anantnag district on Wednesday. Major Dhonchak was a father to a two-and-half-year-old daughter. He also had three sisters. Major Dhonchak came home on leave just two months ago.

Major Dhonchak joined the Indian Army in 2013. His family constitute his wife, two-year-old daughter, and three sisters. Major Dhonchak who had been living in a rented accommodation had planned to shift to a new house in Panipat in October. However, everything went in vain with his sudden death. The Major's mortal remains reached his Panipat home in an Army vehicle.

Apart from Major Dhonchak, Colonel Manpreet Singh, who was commanding the Quick Response Team (QRT) of the Rashtriya Rifles, was also martyred in the gunfight in Anantnag district. The mortal remains of Col. Manpreet Singh was brought to Mohali in Punjab.

Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha, expressed condolences over the sad demise of the officers in the encounter.

A joint search operation was launched by the army and the police to track the terrorists late at night on Tuesday. The terrorist attack started in the early hours of Wednesday.

The area is cordoned off and a search operation is underway. As per the reports, the security forces are using drones for attacks on the hideout of the terrorists in the Kokernag area.

Meanwhile, a soldier is reportedly missing while two others have been injured in the encounter that is underway for over 48 hours. The weapons used by the security forces include strike-capable Heron drones, in their intensified anti-terror operations.

The Jammu and Kashmir Police have confirmed that a local terrorist, Uzair Khan, and a foreign terrorist are still present in the area of the encounter. Reportedly, the security forces have successfully neutralized one terrorist.