• Massive search operation underway to track the terrorists: Police
• Second attack in past 5 days in Jammu region
Srinagar, Aug 19: A Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) inspector was killed after terrorists attacked a joint party of the force and Special Operations Group (SOG) of Jammu and Kashmir Police in Dudu Basantgarh area of Udhampur district in Jammu region on Monday, officials said.
The deceased CRPF Inspector has been identified as Inspector Kuldeep Singh.
A police officer told Rising Kashmir that during area domination patrol at Chill, Dudu, exchange of fire took place between terrorists and joint parties of JKP and CRPF.
“In the encounter, one CRPF Inspector suffered bullet injuries and has attained martyrdom. Operation is underway in the area to track the terrorists,” he said.
The official said the slain officer was leading the joint CASO of CRPF and SOG of Police. “Terrorists fired at them and ran away. Reinforcements have been rushed to the spot and the whole area has been cordoned off,” he said.
Meanwhile, this attack is the latest in a string of encounters in the past few months wherein security personnel have lost their lives, particularly in Jammu division.
On August 14, an army officer, Captain Deepak Singh, was killed in action after an encounter broke out in Jammu and Kashmir’s Doda. A civilian was also injured in the incident.
The officer suffered gunshot wounds in a forested area during a cordon-and-search operation in the Shivgarh-Assar belt of Doda.
On August 10, two soldiers and a civilian were killed in a gunfight between terrorists and security forces in Anantnag.
The region has recently seen a surge in violence, including attacks on an army convoy in Kathua, skirmishes in Doda and Udhampur, and a failed attack by the Pakistan Border Action Team (BAT) along the Line of Control (LoC) in Machchal sector of Kupwara district.
According to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), 28 people, including civilians and security personnel, were killed in 11 terror-related incidents and 24 counter-terror operations up to July 21 this year.
The Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir is set to hold Assembly Elections for the first time since 2014. Voting will take place in three phases on September 18, September 25, and October 1, with the results expected to be announced on October 4.
This election marks a significant step in fulfilling the Supreme Court’s order to restore democracy in Jammu and the Kashmir Valley by September 30.
