J&K: Policeman Killed In Encounter With Terrorists In Kathua, Security Tightened As Gunfight Underway

The encounter started in Kog-Mandli village in Kathua's Billawar tehsil at around 5.30 pm when a cordon and search operation was launched to find terrorists hiding there.

An encounter broke between security forces and terrorists on Saturday evening at a remote village in Jammu and Kashmir's Kathua district.

Jammu and Kashmir: An encounter broke between security forces and terrorists on Saturday evening at a remote village in Jammu and Kashmir's Kathua district. A Jammu and Kashmir Police head constable was killed and an assistant sub-inspector sustained bullet injuries in the fire exchange. The security has been beefed up in the area along the Bali-Billawar road.

The encounter started in Kog-Mandli village in Billawar tehsil at around 5.30 pm when a cordon and search operation was launched by the joint party of police, the Army, and the CRPF. They were informed about the presence of terrorists inside a house, police told news agency PTI.

Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) Jammu said: "During the ongoing encounter in village Kog (Mandli), under the jurisdiction of Police Station Billawar, one police personnel, HC Bashir Ahmed, has sacrificed his life, and one ASI has sustained bullet injuries. Further details are awaited."

They said the firing initially lasted for a brief period but later resumed with both sides exchanging heavy gunfire. The firing was still underway when last reports were received and so far a policeman was injured, the officials told PTI.

Visuals from the village have surfaced wherein the police personnel can be seen performing security checks on all the vehicles due to the encounter. A heavy security forces deployment can be seen in the video.

VIDEO | Security tightened along Bali-Billawar road after an encounter broke between security forces and terrorists this evening during a cordon and search operation at a remote village in Jammu and Kashmir's Kathua district.

As per officials, reinforcements have been rushed to… pic.twitter.com/ZO0t7byDLU

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) September 28, 2024

A joint search operation had been launched by security forces at the village based on specific intelligence about the presence of terrorists. Earlier, a police official said that contact has been established and a few rounds were fired from both sides. The official also said that the area has been put under a tight cordon with reinforcements being inducted from the adjoining security camps.

The incident comes ahead of the third and final phase of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections slated to be held on October 1.