JAMMU: A soldier, critically injured in a gunfight with terrorists, succumbed to his wounds as the Army and police resumed a joint search operation in the higher reaches of Udhampur district on Saturday, officials said.
The soldier was hit late Friday evening when terrorists opened fire on a joint team of the Army and the Special Operations Group (SOG) of Jammu and Kashmir Police in the Seoj Dhar forest, along the Dudu-Basantgarh area bordering Udhampur and Bhaderwah in Doda district, they said.
He was evacuated to a hospital but later died of his injuries, officials added.
The encounter site remained under a tight cordon through the night, and the operation was relaunched at first light on Saturday. Security agencies believe two to three terrorists are still hiding in the dense forest.
Reinforcements, along with drones and sniffer dogs, were rushed from both Udhampur and Doda to intensify the search. A massive operation was underway when last reports came in, though no fresh contact had been established with the terrorists, officials said.
