Inspector Kuldeep Kumar. (Photo: CRPF)
Udhampur: A fierce gunbattle erupted between security forces and militants in the Cheel area of Dudu in Jammu & Kashmir on Monday, resulting in the death of a Central Reserve Police Force inspector, on Monday. Kuldeep Kumar, an experienced officer with the CRPF, succumbed to his injuries after sustaining gunshot wounds during the encounter.
This is the 18th fatality among security personnel in encounters with militants in Jammu & Kashmir in the last three months. The incident has once again highlighted the ongoing security challenges in the Union territory as it prepares for its upcoming assembly elections.
Just a few days earlier, a young Indian Army officer, Captain Deepak Singh, was killed in action fighting militants during an operation in the Jammu region, as India Sentinels reported earlier.
The encounter began when a joint team of the CRPF and Jammu & Kashmir Police was ambushed by militants while on a routine patrol near an under-construction police post in the dense forests of the Dudu-Basantgarh subdivision of Udhampur. The militants, who were hiding in the forest, opened fire on the security forces around 2.45pm, leading to a fierce gunfight.
Inspector Kuldeep Kumar, a dedicated officer from the 187th Battalion, sustained fatal injuries during the exchange of fire. Despite immediate medical attention, he succumbed to his injuries. The CRPF has paid tribute to Inspector Kumar, lauding his bravery and dedication to duty. A CRPF spokesman said Kumar sacrificed his life in the line of duty, and the force stands in unwavering support of his family.
✅A wreath laying ceremony was held today at the hqrs of 187 Bn @crpfindia to pay homage to martyr Inspector Kuldeep Kumar who gave supreme sacrifice while conducting a search operation at Cheel in Dudu-Basantgarh sub division of Udhampur.@crpfindia @udhadm @adgpi @jammusector pic.twitter.com/xwjsSumaI9
— DD NEWS JAMMU | डीडी न्यूज़ जम्मू (@ddnews_jammu) August 20, 2024
Earlier, in a statement, the J&K Police’s Udhampur-Reasi range deputy inspector general (DIG), Rayees Mohammad Bhat, said: “This is very sad, but it is part of our duty. … It is a jungle area without roads or networks. Here, we are facing various challenges. We are using technology and drones, and we are trying to neutralise the threat as soon as possible.”
The encounter has prompted a massive search operation in the area, with security forces cordoning off the region to track down the militants.
As Jammu & Kashmir gears up for its first assembly elections in a decade, the security situation remains precarious. The recent surge in violence has led to intensified security measures across the region. The elections, scheduled to be held in three phases from September 18 to October 1, will be a significant test for the security forces as they strive to ensure a peaceful and fair electoral process.
