Srinagar/UNI: Jammu and Kashmir Lt Governor Manoj Sinha and Army’s Northern Commander Lt Gen Upendra Dwivedi paid tributes to Sepoy Pardeep Singh who died in action during the ongoing anti militancy operation in rugged mountainous of Anantnag district that continued for the seventh consecutive day on Tuesday.

Sepoy Pradeep had gone missing during an initial gunfight on Wednesday with militants at Gadole Kokarnag Anantnag and his body was found on Monday taking the death toll of forces in the fierce gunfight to four.

“Paid homage to our braveheart Sep Pardeep Singh, martyred during anti-terror operation in Anantnag. I bow to his exemplary courage and sacrifice,” Office of LG J&K posted on X.

“#LtGenUpendraDwivedi, #ArmyCdrNC & All Ranks #DhruvaCommand offer deepest condolences & salute the braveheart Sepoy Pardeep Singh who made the supreme sacrifice in the line of duty, in #OPGarol, #Anantnag,” Army’s Northern Command posted on X on Tuesday. “#IndianArmy stands firm with the bereaved family in this hour of grief.”

Sources said an unidentified charred body was also recovered in the forest area during the search operation and the identity of the body is yet to be ascertained.

The combing operation continued for the seventh consecutive day on Tuesday.

Official sources said the firing has halted since morning and the combing operation resumed earlier in the day.

Police and army have offered no updates about any militant casualties so far.

The face off between the militants and security forces in Gadol Kokernag has been going on since Wednesday after two decorated Army officers, Colonel Manpreet Singh, Commanding Officer of the 19 Rashtriya Rifles, his company commander, Major Aashish Dhonchak, and Deputy Superintendent of Police Himayun Muzamil Bhat, were killed and two other soldiers were injured in a gun battle. After the Wednesday gunfight, the army has been using the most sophisticated Israel-manufactured Heron to track down militants.

The forces have also extensively used mortars , under-barrel grenade launchers, rockets and heavy machine guns to flush out the militants from hideouts.