Suspected militants gunned down a soldier who was abducted by them during an anti-militancy operation on Tuesday, betraying the challenges lying ahead for the new government in Jammu and Kashmir.

Officials said two soldiers from the 161 unit of the Territorial Army were kidnapped from a forest in Anantnag during a joint anti-terror operation conducted by the army and the police.

While one soldier escaped despite suffering a bullet injury, another soldier, identified as Hilal Ahmad Bhat, remained missing for the night.

Police sources said his body was found in the Pathribal forest of Anantnag during a search operation. He had bullet marks on his body.

The injured soldier was quickly taken to a medical facility on Tuesday for treatment where his condition was stated to be stable.

The Indian Army’s Srinagar-based Chinar Corps, in a post on X, said a joint operation was launched based on intelligence inputs at the Kazwan forest in Kokernag on October 8.

“The operation continued overnight as one soldier of the Territorial Army was reported missing,” the army said.

In an afternoon update, the army paid tribute to Rifleman Hilal Ahmad Bhat for his “supreme sacrifice” in the line of duty for the #Nation”.