In breaking news, a fierce encounter broke out between the Indian security forces and terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kulgam district at around 3 pm on Sunday. In the encounter that followed, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Aman Kumar Thakur along with Army soldier were martyred while three Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terrorists were gunned down.
The encounter happened in Turigam area of Kulgam after the police received some clues about the presence of militants who were taking shelter inside a residential house. DSP Aman Kumar Thakur was badly injured in the neck and succumbed to his injuries while being taken to an Army hospital.
Wreath laying ceremony for our colleague #DySP Aman Kumar who attained #martyrdom today at #Kulgam was held at DPL #Srinagar. Officers led by DGP laid floral wreaths on mortal remains & paid rich tributes to martyr for supreme #sacrifice made in the line of duty. @JmuKmrPolice pic.twitter.com/FpTcNuhbmf
— Kashmir Zone Police (@KashmirPolice) February 24, 2019
On the other hand, a non-commissioned officer identified as Havaldar Sombir too succumbed to his injuries. Then an Army major and two other soldiers were injured in the encounter. However, the identity of the three JeM terrorists who were neutralised in the face-off is yet to be verified.
Jammu: Jammu & Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik & MoS PMO Jitendra Singh at wreath laying ceremony of DSP Aman Thakur, who lost his life in encounter with terrorists in Tarigam, Kulgam yesterday. pic.twitter.com/fLqqlvNj2z
— ANI (@ANI) February 25, 2019
NDTV reported that nearly a thousand locals surrounded the encounter site and had starting pelting stones at the security agencies.
FYI, DSP Aman Kumar Thakur was a 2011-batch J&K Police Services officer. He had been posted in Kulgam for the last 2 years. He had been leading the counter-terrorism wing of the state police from the vanguard in the area. Thakur was awarded the DGP’s Commendation Medal and Certificate for his fruitful service last month.
J&K Director General of Police (DGP) Dilbagh Singh told TOI, “It is an unfortunate incident, in which we have lost a brave officer. He was a fighter and he led Sunday’s operation himself.”
Later on in the day, a ceremony was organised for Thakur where officers led by DGP paid floral tributes to martyr for supreme sacrifice made for the nation in the line of duty.
No less than 40 CRPF paramilitary soldiers were martyred on February 14 in Pulwama terror attack. Since then, the security forces have become alert about the presence of any hiding JeM terrorists in some residential houses all across India. On Friday, 2 alleged JeM terrorists who were ‘posing as students’ were arrested from Deoband in Saharanpur district, UP.
