New Delhi: One of the fallen martyr of a gunfight with terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir’s Anantnag, Colonel Manpreet Singh (41) talked with her family on 6:45 AM in the morning on the day of the incident and promised that he would call later. His bereaved family said that he had promised to call back.

“The last time we spoke to him (Colonel Singh) was at 6:45 am. He said he would talk later. He was a good man. Last year he received the Sena Medal for his service. I greeted him,” said grieving brother-in law of Colnel, Virender Gill. Colonel had achieved to become the commander of 19 Rashtriya rifles.

Another Officer Welcomed Baby Last Month 

Himayun Bhat, Deputy Superintendent of J&K Police, was the son of retired Inspector General of J&K Police, Ghulam Hassan Bhat, and died due to severe blood loss. Mr. Bhat and his wife just welcomed their son a month ago.

Meanwhile, Major Ashish Dhonack, 34, is survived by a wife and two-year-old daughter living in Panipat, Haryana.

“The last time he spoke to him was on the phone,” said Major Dhonack’s uncle. As shared by his family, Major was at home merely a month and a half ago and was expected to return in October to change homes.

Terrorist Encounter 

In a gun battle with terrorists in Garol area of ​​Anantnag took place on Wednesday, three security personnel: Colonel Singh, Major Ashish Dhonack and Deputy Director Himayun Bhat, were gravely injured and succumbed to death later.

Authorities informed that the officers died while going through the treatment of their injuries. A Jawan was also killed and the whereabouts of another soldier is unknown.

The bodies of the police officer and two army officers were found in the forests in Kokernag area of ​​Anantnag. Dilbagh Singh, Director General of Police, J&K, and Lieutenant General Rajiv Ghai, Commander of the Army’s 15 Corps, were among the senior officials who rushed to the encounter site to supervise the evacuation of the bodies.

Based on accurate intelligence about the presence of terrorists, the army and police launched a joint operation on Tuesday evening. The troops, led by the commander and deputy superintendent of Jammu and Kashmir Police, came under intense fire.