SRINAGAR, Oct 8 — Two Army soldiers from the elite para forces have gone missing in the dense forests of Kokernag in South Kashmir’s Anantnag district, triggering a large-scale search operation by security forces, officials said on Wednesday.
According to Army sources, the soldiers were part of a team deployed in the area for ongoing counterinsurgency operations. “The two men went missing on Tuesday night, and efforts to establish contact with them have so far been unsuccessful,” a source said.
Security personnel immediately launched a coordinated search in the forested zone after communication was lost. “A massive search operation is underway to trace the missing soldiers,” another source added, noting that the operation involves multiple Army units familiar with the terrain.
Officials said the area has seen intensified anti-militancy activity in recent weeks, though it remains unclear if the disappearance is connected to any militant movement. “It would be premature to link this to militancy at this stage,” a senior Army officer noted, adding that the focus remains on locating the soldiers safely.
The Kokernag forests, known for their difficult terrain and thick vegetation, have previously witnessed extended encounters between security forces and militants. Army and police teams have cordoned off several routes in the region as part of the ongoing search effort.
Authorities have not released the identities of the missing personnel. “We are hopeful of re-establishing contact soon,” an official said.
The incident has added to tensions in the area, which has remained under heightened surveillance since recent counterinsurgency operations were stepped up across South Kashmir.
