Major Aashish Dhonchak vowed to return to Panipat, Haryana, in October to assist with the family’s migration when he said goodbye to his family—including his daughter, who is two years old—to resume his duties in Kashmir one and a half months ago. His body was being brought down from the Kokorenag area of Anantnag’s higher terrain some weeks later.
Just hours before passing away from gunshot wounds, Colonel Manpreet Singh, 41, the commanding officer of the 19 Rashtriya Rifles (19 RR) and the winner of the renowned Sena Medal (Gallantry), spoke to his family in Chandigarh, including a son, 6, and a daughter, 1.
Son of retired J&K Police Inspector General Ghulam Hassan Bhat, Himayun Muzamil Bhat, had only recently become a father. In an encounter with terrorists last night in Kokorenag, he was the third officer to pass away.
In response to specific intelligence regarding terrorists in the area on Tuesday night, the army and police had started a coordinated operation. The commanding officer and the deputy superintendent of police were in charge of the troops when the terrorists opened fire on them.
In the gunfight, three officers suffered significant injuries. Although reinforcements were dispatched to the area, intense gunfire and the terrorists’ well-defended position prevented the injured from being taken away right away.
Yesterday in Budgam, Kashmir, Himayun Bhat’s father Ghulam Hassan Bhat placed a wreath on his son’s body. His austere exterior concealed his anguish.
Himayun Bhat completed incredibly challenging responsibilities during his brief five-year stint with the J&K Police, including his time spent in the Special activities Group, which is dedicated solely to counterterrorism activities.
In 2021, Colonel Singh received the Sena Medal (Gallantry). The Commanding Officer (CO) of 19 RR was from the Sikh Light Infantry, his parent unit in the military.
At 6:45 am, we last spoke with him. He promised to speak later. A good man, he was. He received the Sena Medal for his service last year. Colonel Singh’s brother-in-law Virender Gill remarked, “I salute him.
