SRINAGAR: A gangster and an Assistant Sub Inspector of police were killed and an SPO was injured during an encounter within the premises of Government Medical College Kathua, officials said on Wednesday.

They said that based on a tip off, a police party from Ramgarh started chasing “notorious faction of gangsters-Shunoo group-led by one Vasudev” and on noticing the same, the gangsters moved their vehicle into the premises of the Government Medical College Kathua at around 22:45 hours of April 2.  The gangsters, they said, opened fire at the police party, injuring a Sub-Inspector (probationer), Deepak Sharma, and an SPO identified as Anil Kumar. The fire was retaliated and in the ensuing “cross firing”, the accused gangster Vasu Dev alias Shanu, said to be a key accused in a murder case (93/2023 U/S 302/148/149/212/120-B IPC 3/4/25 Arms Act) registered at police station Ramgarh Samba, was killed.   
In the meanwhile, they said the injured were admitted to GMC and later ASI was referred to Amandeep hospital Pathankot for further treatment.    However the ASI succumbed to the injuries today, they added.  

Also Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Kathua, Dysp Headquarters and SHO Kathua besides other police officials reached the spot at the Medical College for first hand details. 

Confirming it, a police officer told GNS that a case has been registered with regard to the incident. (GNS)

SRINAGAR: One person died and more casualties are feared after two houses collapsed following heavy rains in Bani area of Kathua district, officials and reports said on Wednesday.   

They said two Houses belonging to Mushtaq Ahmed and Abdul Qayum  collapsed in Surjan Morha Aruad Block in Bani due to heavy rainfall. Five persons including children got buried under these houses and the body of one person Mohammad Arif son ofAbdul Qayum has been recovered so far by the rescuers including police and local volunteers, they said.

SSP Kathua Shivdeep Singh Jamwal confirmed recovery of one body from the debris and told GNS that a massive rescue operation was underway. He responded in affirmative when asked if more casualties are feared. 

Meanwhile, a woman identified as Naseema Begum wife of Mohammad Rafiq of Mandhota Tehsil Bani died after Landslide hit her, the officials said. Her body has been recovered, they added. 

Also, body of 7th class student Ajay Singh son of Late Mohiner singh of Sitti Tehsil has been recovered from debris of another landslide in Bani near his residence, they said. 

Also, One person Sham Lal son of Tara Chand of Bhullari Tehsil of Bani get buried due to land sliding and search operation is on, they said. 

SDM Bani Satish Kumar told GNS two bodies, one from debris of the house and another that of the woman from under landslide, have been recovered. He said there are reports of flash floods from other areas and teams of official have been deputed. (GNS)

SRINAGAR: A team of the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) on Monday morning rescued four more people trapped in a flash flood in the River Ravi in Kathua district of Jammu and Kashmir.

An official said that after getting information about the trapped persons, the SDRF team headed by DySP Sarabjeet Singh and SDRF Kathua swung into action and rushed to the spot.

"Four persons have been trapped while fishing since Sunday evening in the River Ravi at Maghar near the Paper Mill at Lakhanpur," he said.

The official said that with the help of ropes and boats, they were safely rescued.

On Sunday, he said that 59 people were rescued from various flash flood-hit water bodies across the district. (UNI)

SRINAGAR: A blast shook the Hiranagar area in Kathua district, forcing the security establishment to launch a massive search operation.

Sources said a big-bang was heard near BPP Sanyal at International border in the jurisdiction of police station Hiranagar, after which police and other security forces rushed to the spot. Entire area was cordoned off while police officers reached the spot.

“The nature of the blast is mysterious as of now. We are ascertaining it,” they said.

A top police officer while confirming the incident told news agency Kashmir Dot Com that a blast has been heard near International Border in the police jurisdiction of Hiranagar and SSP is proceeding to spot.

“Exact nature of the blast can be known once investigations are completed,” he said. (KDC)