Village Defence Guard Member Killed in Shootout with Terrorists In J&K Udhampur

Village Defence Guard Member Killed in Shootout: A Village Defence Guard (VDG) - armed civilians guarding villages in border areas in Jammu and Kashmir against militant attacks - has been killed in an exchange of fire with militants in Jammu's Udhampur.

Security forces chased the terrorists deep into the forest area after an initial exchange of fire that lasted over half an hour.

During the initial exchange of fire between a police party and hiding terrorists at Chochru Gala Heights in Udhampur, a police spokesperson said one VDG member of the J&K Police was injured.

Mohammad Shareef, 48, a resident of Lower Ponar, Basantgarh, Udhampur, died from his injuries in the hospital.

CRPF, Army, and Special Operations Groups rushed to the area to strengthen the cordon and neutralize the terrorists, the spokesperson said.

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From Kathua to Basantgarh, two separate groups of terrorists infiltrated recently, according to official sources.

#WATCH | Udhampur, J&K: IGP Jammu Zone, Anand Jain on his way to Basantgarh, after today morning's firing incident between police and terrorists, which injured a Village Defence Guard of J&K Police.

The area has been cordoned off and a thorough search operation is being carried… pic.twitter.com/PfpYHSPc8J

— ANI (@ANI) April 28, 2024

According to the police, more reinforcements have already arrived and the area has been cordoned off.

It is said that one of the groups with five members was confronted, while the other group with four members, whose movement was last reported in the Machedi top area bordering Kathua, was not seen.

Sources claim the terrorists are taking advantage of the dense forests in Chenab valley to infiltrate from Kathua district.

There were around 26,567 local residents recruited into VDCs in Jammu but the committees came under scrutiny after 160 criminal cases involving VDC members were filed.

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