Kathua encounter: J-K cop killed terrorist before dying

The Jammu-Kashmir head constable, involved in an encounter operation in Kathua district, had gunned down a terrorist before he died of injuries on Saturday evening.

The deceased officer has been identified as J-K Police Head Constable Bashir Ahmed.

The exchange of fire started around 5.30 pm on Saturday when security forces launched a joint cordon and search operation in the forested village following information about the presence of a group of terrorists inside a house, officials said.

As the forces approached the target house, the hiding terrorists opened fire, prompting retaliation by the security forces, they said.

“In continuation to dealing the encounter in village Kog (Mandli), under the jurisdiction of P/S Billawar, District Kathua, one Head Constable of J&K Police namely Bashir Ahmed, has made supreme sacrifice in killing the terrorist. He fired at the terrorist and received mortal wounds in exchange of fire,” the J-K Police said in a release.

The other injured police personnel — Deputy Superintendent of Police (Operations) Sukhbir Singh and ASI Niaz Ahmad are stable and are undergoing treatment, said the police statement.

One terrorist has been killed in the operation, said police.

Jammu Zone ADGP Anand Jain and DIG Shiv Sharma are supervising the operation. The search operation for the other terrorist is under way, the police added.

Director General of Police R R Swain paid tributes to the fallen policeman, saying “Bashir did not fear death when it came to protecting his community and countrymen and gave hell to the foreign terrorists with his LMG before succumbing to his injuries”. — with PTI