A CRPF jawan was killed in action after a gunfight broke out between the security forces and terrorists in the Cheel area of Ramnagar in Jammu and Kashmir's Udhampur district on Monday (August 19), officials said. The CRPF jawan was identified as Inspector Kuldeep Singh.
"At 3:30 pm terrorist fired on CRPF patrol with JKP SOG team. Unit of crpf 187 was deployed at chill area of DUDU police station im Udhampur. One crpf inspector killed in action," officials said.
Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) Inspector Kuldip, belonging to the G company of the 187th battalion, was hit by a bullet and later succumbed to his injuries while being taken to the hospital, they said.
The terrorists fled the scene in the face of strong retaliation by the joint patrolling party, the officials said, adding reinforcements have been rushed to the scene and a search operation has been launched to track down and neutralise the militants.
Priyanka Gandhi pays tribute
"The news of the martyrdom of CRPF Inspector Kuldeep Kumar during an encounter with terrorists in Udhampur, Jammu and Kashmir is extremely sad. May God grant peace to the departed soul. My deepest condolences to the bereaved family. The entire country is united against terrorism and strongly condemns it in one voice," she posted on X.
Another encounter on August 13
Earlier on August 13, an encounter broke out between the security forces and the terrorists in the Patnitop area of Udhampur, the Indian Army said.
Earlier this month, two encounters broke out between security forces and terrorists in remote forest areas in Jammu and Kashmir's Kishtwar and Udhampur districts. The encounter in Kishtwar had no impact on the annual Machail Mata Yatra in the Paddar area and assured pilgrims visiting the shrine that adequate security arrangements were in place.
The officials said security forces also established contact with terrorists in the forests of Basantgarh in Udhampur district on Sunday evening. A few rounds were exchanged between the two sides in Khaned forest but there was no report of any casualty, they said, adding the area has been cordoned off and a fresh search of the area will be started Monday morning.
Recent terrorist attacks
After a short reign of peace that started with the abrogation of Article 370, terror activities have again resurfaced in Jammu and Kashmir. The recent spike was mostly witnessed in the Jammu region. Some of the deadly attacks that spread to Reasi, Kathua and Doda were attributed by the security establishment as an attempt by Pakistani handlers to revive terrorism in the Jammu region. Over 70 people, including 52 security personnel -- mostly from the Army -- have been killed in terror-related incidents in the Jammu region since 2021.
