Srinagar – The body of a second soldier who went missing during a counter-terrorism operation in the dense forests of Kokernag, in the Anantnag district of south Kashmir, has been recovered on Friday. This discovery comes after days of extensive search operations in the rugged Ahlan Gadool forest range. The first body was found on Thursday.

The soldiers, part of the elite 7 Para (Special Forces) unit, went missing on October 6th and 7th during an anti-terror operation in the Kokernag forest area amidst severe weather conditions. The operation was launched based on intelligence regarding the presence of foreign terrorists in the area. The aim was to neutralize any potential threats ahead of the winter season, when heavy snowfall typically renders infiltration routes along the Line of Control (LoC) impassable.

Joint teams comprising the Indian Army, Jammu and Kashmir Police, and other security forces have been involved in the massive combing operation over the past several days. The challenging terrain, dense vegetation, and inclement weather hampered search efforts. Drones, UAVs and helicopters were also brought in to assist with the search.

Officials have stated that the bodies have been taken into custody by security agencies for identification. While the identification process is underway, authorities suspect the remains belong to the missing soldiers. It is believed that the soldiers may have died due to a weather-related incident, possibly a snowstorm, given the severe conditions encountered during the operation. The army reported that the team faced a severe snowstorm and whiteout conditions on the night of October 6th and 7th, leading to the loss of contact with the two soldiers.

The recovery of the second soldier's body marks a grim conclusion to the search operation. However, sources indicate that the search operation continues in the snow-covered terrain of Ahlan Gadol to locate any remaining evidence or missing personnel.

The Gadole forest, where the soldiers went missing, is a dense, high-altitude area in the Kokernag region of the Anantnag district. It is known for its inaccessibility and has historically been a hotspot for terrorist activity. Despite ruling out a militant angle in this instance, security forces have conducted numerous anti-militancy operations in the area, targeting groups like Jaish-e-Mohammad and Lashkar-e-Toiba. These groups have exploited the dense terrain to evade detection.