J&K: Village Defence Guard Killed In Gunfight With Suspected Pak Terrorists In Udhampur, Search Op Underway

Acting on intelligence regarding the movement of suspicious individuals on Saturday evening, the J&K Police mobilised the security apparatus in Basantgarh police station limits.

A security personnel stands guard during an encounter with terrorists. ( Image Source :pti )

New Delhi:  A Village Defence Guard (VDG) member was killed in a gunfight with terrorists in a remote village in Jammu and Kashmir's Udhampur district early Sunday, officials said. A huge search operation is currently in progress to apprehend the terrorists, who are suspected to have recently infiltrated from Pakistan, according to officials cited by news agency PTI. The exchange of gunfire occurred in Panara village of Basantgarh, where a patrolling team comprising police and VDGs encountered the suspected militants around 7:45 am, the officials said.

According to officials, after an initial exchange of gunfire lasting over half an hour, the terrorists fled deep into the forest area, prompting a pursuit by security forces. VDG member Mohd Sharief, hailing from Khaned, sustained critical injuries in the firing and succumbed to his wounds, as per official statements, reported PTI.

Acting on intelligence regarding the movement of suspicious individuals on Saturday evening, the J&K Police mobilised the security apparatus in Basantgarh police station limits. Today morning, a party of police picket Sang carrying along with them VDG members proceeded towards Chochru Gala heights where a face-off ensued with a group of hiding terrorists, a police spokesperson said.

Jammu-Kashmir: Search Op Underway To Trace And Neutralise Terrorists

The spokesperson further informed that the Special Operations Group of police, in collaboration with Army and CRPF units, swiftly deployed to reinforce the cordon and thwart the terrorist threat. According to official sources cited by PTI, intelligence indicated the movement of two distinct groups of militants, who had recently infiltrated from Kathua to Basantgarh.

IGP Jammu Zone Anand Jain said, "We received the information about the presence of terrorists in this region, post that the entire area was activated as the information was not specific. We did the activation everywhere...When the area domination exercise began, during that course terrorists attacked, and the retaliation was done by our party as well; our partner was martyred. We have sieged the entire area and search operation is on. This is a fresh infiltration group that has arrived in this area...Now, the entire region has been corned off, search is underway in order to trace and neutralise them", reported ANI.

#WATCH | Udhampur: IGP Jammu Zone Anand Jain says, "We received the information about the presence of terrorists in this region, post that the entire area was activated as the information was not specific. We did the activation everywhere...When the area domination exercise… pic.twitter.com/IF6us3yQYL

— ANI (@ANI) April 28, 2024

"One group, comprising five members, was intercepted by security forces, while the whereabouts of the second group, consisting of four members and last spotted in the Machedi top area bordering Kathua, remain unknown", they said.

According to sources cited by PTI, the terrorists are suspected to have infiltrated from Kathua district and are reportedly making their way towards Kashmir through the Chenab valley, leveraging the dense forest cover for concealment.

In response, the Army deployed Special Forces via airdrop into the forested area, initiating a large-scale search operation to locate and neutralize the militants. As of now, they said there was no fresh contact with the terrorists.