Udhampur Encounter: Cop Killed, Militants Flee; Ops On | Kashmir Life

SRINAGAR: A policeman of the Jammu Kashmir Police was killed on Tuesday during an ongoing encounter with militants in Udhampur district, while the assailants fled into the dense forest following an initial exchange of fire, officials said.

Inspector General of Police (IGP), Jammu Zone, Bhim Sen Tuti told reporters that a cordon-and-search operation had been launched on Monday evening in Soan village based on specific intelligence. “The input proved accurate and an encounter broke out when a small team of the Special Operations Group (SOG) came under fire from terrorists,” he said.

During the firefight, cop Amjad Ali Khan of Poonch sustained critical injuries. “He was immediately evacuated for medical treatment but, unfortunately, succumbed to his injuries due to excessive blood loss,” the IGP said.

IGP Tuti added that the terrorists fled towards the dense forest after the initial gunfire. “The entire region has been cordoned off and a joint combing operation has been launched with the support of the Indian Army and CRPF,” he said.

Describing the terrain, he further said that, “The area is extremely difficult, with hilly features and thick forest cover. According to the original intelligence, three terrorists were hiding there, which was later confirmed during the encounter. The operation is ongoing to track the terrorists.”

Security forces have been conducting continuous large-scale operations in the upper reaches and forests of the Jammu region to track down militants hiding there, who are involved in hit-and-run attacks on security personnel.