Civilian shot dead in J&K's Bhaderwah during SOG operation; internet cut in Chenab Valley
A 35-year-old civilian died of a gunshot wound in an overnight incident in Bhaderwah, Jammu and Kashmir, on Friday, July 17, 2026. Two personnel of the Jammu and Kashmir Police's Special Operation Group (SOG), a specialised anti-insurgency unit, were also injured. Authorities have suspended internet services in parts of the Chenab Valley as a precautionary measure.
According to Dr Tanvir Ahmad, Medical Superintendent of District Hospital Doda, three patients were admitted around 3 a.m. One patient, later identified as Aarif Hussain, a resident of Cheeka village, was declared brought dead with a gunshot wound. A medical board conducted a postmortem, and samples have been sent to the forensic laboratory in Jammu. The other two patients sustained minor injuries to the face, head, and back and are stable.
The Jammu and Kashmir Police has not issued an official statement regarding the circumstances of the civilian's death. Preliminary reports indicate that the SOG team had laid an ambush along the Jaie-Gandoh road, about 35 km from Bhaderwah town. Around 11:30 p.m. on Thursday, the police team spotted the youth in the area. The sequence of events leading to the firing remains unclear.
In response to the incident, authorities suspended internet services in Doda, Bhaderwah, Bhalesa, and Thatri of the Chenab valley. Additional security forces have been deployed in sensitive areas. Local residents are demanding a fair and transparent investigation into the firing incident.
