Srinagar: A Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) officer lost his life in a terrorist attack on a patrol unit in the Dadu area of Udhampur district, Jammu and Kashmir, on Monday.
According to reports, a joint patrol comprising CRPF personnel and the Special Operations Group (SOG) of the Jammu and Kashmir Police was ambushed by terrorists in the remote Chill area under the jurisdiction of a local police station.
The officer, identified as Inspector Kuldip from G Company of the 187th battalion, was struck by a bullet during the firefight. Despite efforts to rush him to the hospital, he succumbed to his injuries.
The District Police Udhampur confirmed the incident on their official X (formerly Twitter) handle, stating: "During area domination patrol at Chill, Dadu, exchange of fire took place between terrorists and joint parties of JKP and CRPF. In the encounter, one Inspector of CRPF suffered bullet injuries & has attained martyrdom. Operation continues."
The terrorists managed to flee after facing strong retaliation from the joint patrolling party, reports said. Reinforcements were immediately deployed to the area, and a search operation is currently under way to locate and neutralise the militants.
This attack follows the recent announcement of Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir, the first since the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019.
Jammu region has witnessed a rise in terrorist activities, particularly in the southern areas of the Pir Panjal range, where the dense forests and rugged terrain provide cover for militants.
As per the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), 28 individuals, including civilians and security personnel, have lost their lives in 11 terror-related incidents and 24 counter-terror operations till July 21 this year.
A senior police official expressed concern over the increasing number of military casualties, which has prompted a reassessment of force deployment strategies in the region.
While the government remains focused on securing the Kashmir Valley, there is a growing recognition of the need to enhance security measures in the Jammu region, leading to the deployment of additional forces in critical areas.