Pall of gloom descends on Panchkula as Col Manpreet Singh attains martyrdom in J-K encounter

Panchkula, September 13: A pall of gloom has descended on Haryana's Panchkula after Colonel Manpreet Singh attained martyrdom in a Jammu and Kashmir encounter.

Colonel Manpreet Singh was a resident of Sector 26, Panchkula. Manpreet Singh's wife, Jagmeet Grewal and his sister and brother-in-law were all present at his Panchkula home. His wife has yet to learn of his martyrdom.

Colonel Manpreet Singh is the recipient of the prestigious Sena Medal (SM) and commanding officer of the 19 Rashtriya Rifles (19 RR) unit.

Notably, a colonel, a major of a Rashtriya Rifles unit of the army and a Deputy Superintendent of Jammu and Kashmir Police were killed in action during an encounter with terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir's Anantnag district.

The martyred personnel are Colonel Manpreet Singh, Major Aashish Dhonchak and Deputy Superintendent of Police Himanyun Muzamil Bhat.

"Deeply saddened by the terrible loss of three young bravehearts Col. Manpreet Singh, Major Ashish Dhonack of 19 RR & DySP Humayun Muzamil Bhat son of retired IG of J&K Police Shri Ghulam Hassan Bhat," Director General of Jammu and Kashmir Police Dilbag Singh stated.

The army's Cheetah helicopters have been dispatched to the encounter site to conduct surveillance and evacuation operations.

According to sources, the army and police conducted a coordinated operation late last night after receiving specific information regarding the presence of terrorists.

The troops led by the commanding officer and a deputy superintendent of Jammu and Kashmir police came under heavy firing and the three officers were critically injured.

Reinforcement was quickly dispatched to the site, but owing to intense firing from terrorists believed to be well entrenched, the injured were unable to be evacuated swiftly, according to sources.

This is the second encounter in the last 24 hours.

Earlier, authorities stated that one army man was killed in action and three security forces personnel were injured after a tough battle with terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir's Rajouri district.

The incident also resulted in the deaths of two terrorists. The operation is still ongoing.

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- With inputs from our correspondent