Body of missing Territorial Army jawan found

Srinagar: One of the two Territorial Army jawans who went missing during a counterinsurgency operation in the wooded hills of Jammu and Kashmir’s southern Anantnag district a day ago was found dead on Wednesday, the police said. The other jawan has returned alive but in an injured condition.

The police and Army officials said that, as reported, the duo was seized by separatist militants during the operation launched in the Shangus area of Anantnag on Tuesday. But one of them escaped from their captivity even though he was injured, they said, adding he was quickly evacuated to a military hospital where his condition is stable.

The officials said that the bullet-riddled corpse of Rifleman Hilal Ahmed Bhat was found in a forest area of Anantnag’s Kokernag belt early Wednesday. Later during the day, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha laid a wreath on Bhat’s mortal remains and paid homage to him. “I salute the supreme sacrifice of our Army Braveheart Rfn Hilal Ahmad Bhat. His valour and sacrifice will never be forgotten,” Mr. Sinha said, adding, “The entire nation stands firmly with the family of the martyr in this hour of grief.”