CRPF officer killed in terror attack in J&K’s Udhampur; Counter-terror operation underway

New Delhi: A CRPF officer was killed in action after terrorists opened fire on a joint patrol party in the Dadu area of Jammu and Kashmir’s Udhampur district. The attack, which occurred earlier today, targeted a team consisting of personnel from the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and the Special Operations Group (SOG) of the Jammu and Kashmir Police. In response, security forces swiftly launched a counter-terror operation to track down the assailants.

More on the growing concerns

The incident has raised concerns about the growing terror activities in the Jammu region, which has largely remained quieter compared to the Kashmir Valley in recent years. However, recent months have seen an alarming increase in attacks, particularly in the southern areas of the Pir Panjal range, known for its dense forests and rugged terrain that offer cover for militants.

Spike in terror attacks across Jammu region

This attack follows a series of similar incidents in Jammu and Kashmir. On August 14, Captain Deepak Singh, an army officer, was killed in action during an encounter in Doda. The same day, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh chaired a high-level meeting in Delhi to address the surge in terror activities across the Union Territory. The meeting was attended by NSA Ajit Doval and Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi.

On August 10, two soldiers and a civilian lost their lives during a fierce gun battle with militants in Anantnag. The region has witnessed multiple skirmishes, including attacks on army convoys, ambushes in Doda and Udhampur, and infiltration attempts along the Line of Control in Kupwara. With 28 lives lost in terror-related incidents and counter-terror operations this year, the government has revised its security strategy, increasing troop deployments and fortifying infiltration routes in both the Jammu and Kashmir regions.