A fierce exchange between the security forces and terrorists broke out in Jammu & Kashmir on Tuesday, with one security personnel being martyred. This has led to a massive counter-terror operation being launched in the area. The exchange broke out in a forested part of the Udhampur district, where there were inputs that terrorists were hiding with weapons.
The police sources state that the search party consisting of the Jammu & Kashmir Police, the Indian Army, and the paramilitaries initiated the search operation in the wee hours of the morning in the wake of concrete information about the movements of the terrorists. The security forces moved in on the suspected hideout of the terrorists when they suddenly came under intense fire. Within the first moments of the exchange of fire, a police constable was seriously injured in the firing and shortly thereafter succumbed to his injuries.
According to officials, the terrorists are hemmed in and sealed in an area that has since been cordoned off. The noose is being tightened to ensure that the terrorists do not escape. More forces have since been deployed to the scene to bolster the operation. Drones have also been used to monitor the movement of the terrorists. civilians living in nearby villages have since been told to stay indoors.
Senior officials on the spot have confirmed that the operation is still in process and is being executed with a great deal of caution. “The operation is in a sensitive phase. Our priority is to neutralize the terrorists while ensuring the safety of our personnel and civilians,” said a senior police officer. It is also believed that there could be two to three terrorists in the region, although a confirmation of this will only be possible post-operation.
The death of the police personnel has once again brought into focus the danger to which the security forces are being subjected on a daily basis in the state of Jammu and Kashmir. The highest authorities have paid homage to the martyred police personnel and hailed him for his bravery and sacrifice for the country. Tributes and condolences poured in from all over the country for the departed soul.
Security forces in the past few months have been conducting intensified counter-terror operations in the Jammu and Kashmir area due to the spurt in infiltrations and militant activities. However, according to officials, the militant networks have been under pressure, but the incident has highlighted the fact that sporadic events are continuing to carry the same threat. The intelligence forces are also investigating whether the militants, who were involved in the encounter, are part of a larger module in the Jammu area. As the operations are ongoing, it has also been advised that people should refrain from spreading rumors and unverified news on social media platforms and should only stick to official news. More information would be gathered once the encounter is over and the location is completely sanitized.
