Dehradun: People pay last respects to Major VS Dhoundiyal, who lost his life in an encounter in Pulwama yesterday… https://t.co/m4xNFgcYCS — ANI (@ANI) 1550547943000

#ArmyCdrNC and all ranks salute the supreme sacrifice of our brave officer and soldiers & offer deepest condolences… https://t.co/DrxrS36LSL — NorthernComd.IA (@NorthernComd_IA) 1550479828000

SRINAGAR: The forces suffered heavy casualties — five men, including Major V S Dhoundiyal died during the 18-hour operation at Pinglan in South Kashmir’s Pulwama on Monday — in order to avoid civilian casualties, GOC 15 Corps, Lt-Gen K J S Dhillon, said at a press conference here.A JeM operational commander and his aides, who were involved in the February 14 terror attack on a CRPF convoy , were killed in the battle.“We did not want civilian casualties. We took it on our chin. Brigadier Harbir Singh, who was injured during the gun battle, was on leave. When he realised the operation had been launched, he cut short his leave and went straight to join the operation. He was leading from the front, and so was DIG Amit Kumar, because we wanted no collateral damage,” Lt Gen Dhillon said.The Army on Tuesday appealed to the mothers of Kashmiri militants to ask their sons to give up guns , or they would die holding them.“In Kashmiri society, a mother has a great role to play. I would request the mothers of Kashmir to please request their sons who have joined terrorism to surrender and get back to the mainstream. Anyone who has picked up the gun will be eliminated, unless he surrenders,” said the corps commander.While security forces had a tough time on Monday handling the operation, a massive, violent civilian mob was trying to rescue the terrorists at the Pinglan encounter site. “I request Kashmiri youths to stay away from operation sites before and after the encounter for their own safety. Anything can go wrong due to crossfire and leftover explosives,” Lt-Gen Dhillon said.J&K inspector general of police S P Pani said the local recruitment of youth into terrorism has dipped in the last few months. However, Lt-Gen Dhillon said infiltration of terrorists from Pakistan into Kashmir has continued even through the harsh winter months. The commander said the Pakistan army and its spy agency ISI were involved in the Pulwama terror attack. “I would like to inform that in less than 100 hours of the Pulwama terrorist attack we have eliminated the JeM leadership in the Valley, which was being handled by JeM from Pakistan,” he said.