Jammu- An unidentified terrorist was reportedly killed while a police personnel sustained injuries in an ongoing encounter between terrorists and security forces in the Majalta area of Udhampur district on Monday evening, officials said.

Official sources said that the gunfight erupted after joint teams of the Army, Jammu and Kashmir Police and paramilitary forces launched a cordon and search operation in the Soan–Martha area of Majalta tehsil following specific intelligence inputs about the presence of terrorists.

“As the search operation was intensified, the hiding terrorists opened fire, which was retaliated to by the security forces, triggering the encounter,” an official said, adding that preliminary reports suggest one terrorist has been killed while a policeman has been injured. Further details are awaited.

Inspector General of Police, Jammu Zone, Bhim Sen Tuti said contact with the terrorists was established after police received precise inputs about their movement in the remote village. “A joint team of the Special Operations Group, Army and CRPF is on the job,” he said.

In a post on X, the IGP said that a small SOG team initially engaged the terrorists, but combing operations were hampered due to darkness and the treacherous terrain of the forest area.

Officials said the exchange of fire began around 6 pm. Reinforcements have been rushed to the spot, and all possible escape routes have been sealed to prevent the remaining terrorists from fleeing, they added.  (inputs from KNO)