Brief Gunfire Exchange in Udhampur's Sang Police Picket

A brief exchange of fire was reported at Sang Police Picket in Jammu and Kashmir's Udhampur district. An unknown militant fired at the checkpoint before fleeing into the forest. Security forces have intensified their search operations. The incident follows a recent attack in Kathua that left five soldiers dead.

A brief exchange of fire erupted at the Sang Police Picket in Jammu and Kashmir's Udhampur district on Wednesday evening. SSP Udhampur Joginder Singh confirmed that an unidentified individual, suspected to be a militant, fired at the police checkpoint in Basantgarh Tehsil before fleeing into the dense forested area.

Taking advantage of the dense woods and darkness, the assailant managed to escape, Singh added. Additional details are still awaited as the situation develops.

In response, security forces have ramped up their search operations in the nearby Doda district. This comes a day after a similar encounter between terrorists and security forces in the Sezan forest area. The ongoing efforts aim to track down the militants responsible for the recent attack on an Army convoy on July 8.

The July 8 ambush in the remote Badnota area of Kathua resulted in the deaths of five soldiers and left eight others injured. The heavily armed terrorists targeted an Army patrolling party along the Machedi-KindliMalhar road, about 150 km from Kathua town. Officials believe this incident is part of a broader attempt by Pakistan to destabilize the region. The infiltration route used by the attackers is a known old pathway along the international border.

The area, which primarily falls under the jurisdiction of the 9 Corps of the Army and is monitored by the BSF, has historically been a hotspot for such militant activities.