Martyr SOG Jawan Laid to Rest With Full Honours in Mendhar
Jammu, Dec 17: Security forces have intensified search operations across Soan village and the adjoining forest belt to track down three suspected Pakistani terrorists involved in the gun battle with a Special Operations Group (SOG) team, in which one jawan was martyred and two others injured.
The encounter took place late Monday evening in the Soan area of Udhampur district. Officials said the three terrorists, believed to be foreign nationals, had descended into the village in search of food and were seen moving around for the past two days. They reportedly visited a few houses, which alerted security agencies and led to the launch of a cordon-and-search operation.
During the initial exchange of fire, SOG jawan Amjad Ali Khan, a resident of Salva in Mendhar tehsil of Poonch district, sustained critical injuries and later succumbed due to excessive blood loss. Two other personnel were also injured. One of the terrorists is believed to have been wounded in the encounter.
Following the firefight, the terrorists managed to escape into the dense forest area, which connects to Basantgarh and Ramnagar in Udhampur district. These forests further link to the mountainous belts of Doda and Kishtwar, areas that have seen multiple terror incidents in the past. The difficult terrain and thick vegetation are believed to have aided the terrorists’ escape.
A joint operation involving the Army, paramilitary forces, SOG and police is underway across the entire forest belt. No fresh contact has been established since the encounter, officials said.
During searches near the encounter site, security forces also discovered a temporary hideout used by the terrorists. Items recovered included rice, flour, pulses, cooking oil, turmeric, clothing, caps, socks and other daily-use material, indicating prolonged movement in the area.
Meanwhile, the mortal remains of martyred jawan Amjad Ali Khan were brought to his native village Pathana Teer in Salva, Mendhar, after a wreath-laying ceremony in Udhampur. He was laid to rest with full state honours on Tuesday evening. Senior police and civil officers, along with a large number of locals, attended the burial and paid tributes to the fallen jawan, who was widely respected in the area.
Addressing the media earlier in the day, the Inspector General of Police, Jammu Zone, said the operation is ongoing and security forces are determined to track down the terrorists. He confirmed that three terrorists are believed to be hiding in the forested area and that efforts are being made to neutralise them.
