An Army officer and three personnel, who were critically injured in a gunfight with terrorists in a forest area in Doda district of Jammu and Kashmir on Monday night, have succumbed to their injuries, according to sources.
Meanwhile, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh spoke to Indian Army chief General Upendra Dwivedi today on the ground situation in Jammu and Kashmir and the ongoing counter terrorist operation in Doda.
The encounter started after the troops of Rashtriya Rifles and Special Operations Group of J-K Police launched a joint cordon and search operation at Dhari Gote Urarbagi in the Desa forest area around 7.45 pm, officials said. They said four army personnel, including an officer, were injured in the exchange of fire which initially lasted for over 20 minutes.
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The Army said that additional troops were moved into the area and the operation was continuing when reports last came in.
The operation was launched on an input about the presence of terrorists, the officials said.
3rd Major Encounter In Doda
This was the third major encounter between security forces and terrorists in the forests of Doda district in the past three weeks. The latest incident comes a week after a terrorist ambush on an Army patrol in the remote Machedi forest belt in Kathua district claimed the lives of five soldiers and injured as many.
Over 70 people, including 52 security personnel — mostly from the Army — have been killed in terror-related incidents in the Jammu region since 2021. Most of the casualties were from Rajouri and Poonch districts where 54 terrorists were also eliminated, the officials said.
Soldiers Committed To Eliminate Terrorism: Rajnath
The Defence Minister said the nation stands firmly with the families of our soldiers who sacrificed their lives in the line of duty.
“Deeply saddened by the loss of our brave and courageous Indian Army Soldiers in a counter terrorist operation in Urrar Baggi, Doda (J&K). My heart goes out to the bereaved families. The Nation stands firmly with the families of our soldiers who sacrificed their lives in the line of duty. The Counter Terrorist operations are underway, and our soldiers remain committed to eliminate the scourge of terrorism and restore peace and order in the region,” he said in a post on X.
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Will Avenge Death of Our Soldiers: LG
J&K LG Manoj Sinha condemned the attack on Army soldiers and Jammu and Kashmir Police personnel in Doda district. He also paid tributes to brave soldiers who lost their lives.
“We will avenge death of our soldiers & thwart the evil designs of terrorists and their associates. I call upon the people to unite in the fight against terrorism & provide us accurate information so that we can intensify anti-terror operations & neutralise the terror ecosystem,” the LG said in a post on X.
Our Soldiers, Their Families Bearing Brunt of BJP’s ‘Wrong Policies’: Rahul Gandhi
Paying tributes to soldiers, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi said such incidents are concerning and blamed the BJP government’s policies.
“These continuous terrorist attacks are reflecting the deteriorated condition of Jammu and Kashmir. Our soldiers and their families are bearing the brunt of BJP’s wrong policies,” Gandhi said in a post in Hindi on X.
“It is the demand of every patriotic Indian that the government should take full responsibility for the repeated security lapses and take strict action against the culprits of the country and the soldiers,” he said.
“In this hour of grief, the entire country stands united against terrorism,” Gandhi said.
Mehbooba Says Accountability Should Be Fixed
PDP president Mehbooba Mufti sought accountability for the “loss of 50 soldiers in the past 32 months” in terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir, saying “heads should have rolled by now”.
“Unfortunately, there is no accountability. Heads should have rolled by now … the DGP (R R Swain) should have been sacked by now,” Mehbooba told reporters here.
“What has happened in Doda yesterday is highly condemnable. We lost our brave soldiers and officers in this attack… there is no accountability,” she said.
“The incumbent DGP is more busy fixing things politically. He is more into how to crush PDP and how to harass the people,” she alleged.
“Almost 50 soldiers lost their lives in past 32 months. Nobody is being held accountable,” she said.
(With PTI inputs)
