A deputy superintendent of police and a soldier were killed in an encounter with militants in Kulgam district of south Kashmir on Sunday, officials said.
The encounter took place in the Turigam area of Kulgam after the police got an intelligence input about the presence of a group of militants in the area, they added.
The approaching police party was fired upon, in which Deputy Superintendent of Police (DySP) Aman Thakur got seriously injured in the neck. The officer succumbed to his injuries when he was being flown to the army hospital, the officials said.
The soldier was also critically injured during the encounter and later succumbed.
Three militants were also killed in the encounter, the officials said, adding that the identity and group affiliation of the militants was being ascertained.
A 2011-batch JK Police Services officer and a resident of Doda district in Jammu region, Thakur was leading the police team from the front in the encounter with JeM terrorists.
Jammu and Kashmir Director General of Police (DGP) Dilbagh Singh said, "It is an unfortunate incident, in which we have lost a brave officer. He was a fighter and he led Sunday's operation himself."
Thakur was posted as the DySP (operation) in Kulgam, a terrorist-infested area of south Kashmir, two years ago and had successfully carried out anti-terror operations in the area.
He was awarded the DGP's Commendation Medal and Certificate for his exemplary service only last month.
(with PTI inputs)
