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Srinagar, Sept 17: Security forces on Sunday recovered a body, believed to be that of a militant, near cave hideout at Gadoole area of Kokernag where a massive anti-militancy operation is underway for the fifth consecutive day.

Top official sources told that the identity of the deceased person was not immediately ascertained and it appears that the body is that of one of the militants.

The massive operation in the Gadoole area started on Wednesday when militants in earlier contact with joint team of Police and army killed a Army Colonel Manpreet Singh (CO 19RR), Major Ashish Dhonchak and Deputy Superintendent police Humayun Bhat while two soldiers were injured.One of the soldiers later succumbed to the wounds.

Yesterday army’s Northern Commander Lt. Gen Dwivedi along with other officers visited the site of the gunfight to take stock of operational situation.

According to the sources he was briefed by the ground commanders regarding the operation in which hi-tech equipment like drones, helicopters have been pressed for surveillance.

Earlier this week, ADGP Kashmir Vijay Kumar said that two to three militants are trapped in the woods. He had also asked retired army, police officers to avoid ‘Ambush Hypothesis”, stating that it was specific input based operation that the militants will ne nutralized.(GNS)