The militants who killed the four Army personnel in Monday night’s encounter are suspected to be the same group that fled after attacking security forces in the district’s Sezan forests on July 9, sources in the security establishment said…reports Asian Lite News
Four Army personnel, including a Captain, were killed in an encounter with a group of militants late Monday night inside Koti forests in Doda district of Jammu and Kashmir.
The Army identified the four as Captain Brijesh Thapa, Naik D Rajesh, Sepoy Bijendra and Sepoy Ajay Kumar Singh — all from Rashtriya Rifles — and said they had “laid down their lives in the line of duty, while undertaking a counter terrorist operation in Doda in order to ensure peace in the region”. This comes a week after five soldiers were killed when militants ambushed a convoy of two Army trucks in Kathua district on July 8.
In fact, since the June 9 terror attack on a bus carrying pilgrims in Reasi, Jammu has seen a surge in militant activity, with the security establishment often the target. At least 10 security personnel have been killed and several others injured in encounters in Jammu division’s Reasi, Kathua and Doda districts since then.
The militants who killed the four Army personnel in Monday night’s encounter are suspected to be the same group that fled after attacking security forces in the district’s Sezan forests on July 9, sources in the security establishment said.
Captain among four Army personnel killed in J&K gunfight, search ops on Clockwise from top left: Captain Brijesh Thapa, Naik D Rajesh, Sepoy Ajay Kumar Singh and Sepoy Bijendra
According to sources, security forces had been looking for them for the past week. Around 9 pm on Monday, contact was made with the militants, leading to a heavy firefight in which the four soldiers were critically injured. They were evacuated to a hospital, where they succumbed to their injuries.
Sources said the area has been encircled, and fresh reinforcements, including Para commandos from the Army and J&K Police’s Special Operations Group, have been rushed there. Ground teams are being assisted by helicopter and drone surveillance, but there’s no sign of the militants so far, said sources.
Sources said the search parties are facing challenges navigating the dense forests on treacherous mountain terrain, where pine trees reach a height of 200-250 feet and dense wild growth makes visibility difficult. The forests are so dense that it is difficult to see someone hiding beyond 3-4 feet, sources said.
These forests span a vast area, starting from Udhampur’s Basantgarh to Paddar in Kishtwar district and Jawahar Tunnel in Ramban district, sources said, adding that the militants are using the terrain to their advantage.
Security agencies suspect this is not the only militant group moving in Doda district; they believe there are more in the higher reaches of the district, which shares borders with Kashmir Valley, Ramban and Udhampur districts, Kathua and Himachal Pradesh.
Searches in Doda forests have been underway since April 28, when militants attacked a patrol party, killing an SPO. The searches intensified after the ambush on an Army convoy on July 8, killing five soldiers and injuring five others in Kathua district’s Badnota village.
Sharing details of the Doda encounter, Jammu-based Army PRO, Lt Col Suneel Bartwal, said that “in light of the incidents in the recent past, proactive counter-terrorist operations continue… Accordingly, a joint operation with J&K Police was launched in General Area Urarbaggi, 10 kilometres North of Doda”.
“At about 8.40 pm on July 15, the search party was able to establish contact with the terrorists hiding in the area, which is a thickly forested and mountainous area with restricted visibility due to low clouds and rain. In the initial volley of fire, four Indian Army personnel were injured, who later succumbed to their injuries,” he said.
“Indian Army has been conducting a series of joint and coordinated operations with J&K Police to eliminate foreign terrorists who have infiltrated and are moving in the upper reaches of Udhampur, Doda, Kishtwar and Bhaderwah areas and thereafter to Kashmir Valley,” he said, adding that similar operations are being conducted in Kathua.
He said an analysis of “war-like stores recovered from the slain terrorists reveals the hand of inimical agencies from across the border”.
“The Line of Control and fence is intact and alert troops have recently neutralised three terrorists attempting to infiltrate along with a large quantity of war-like stores in Kupwara region on 14 July,” he said. “We deeply regret the loss of precious lives of our four brave soldiers who have made the supreme sacrifice in the line of duty. All formations of Northern Command are committed to eliminating the scourge of terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir for which the relentless operations will continue.”
Opposition slams Centre over its peace claims
After another terrorist attack in Jammu’s Doda district, which claimed the lives of four soldiers, the opposition parties on Tuesday slammed the Central government and said that a united national effort is needed against cross-border terrorism.
Four Indian Army soldiers, including an officer, were killed in action during an encounter with terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir’s Doda district on Tuesday.
Congress Chief Mallikarjun Kharge has vehemently condemned the cowardly act and criticised the Modi government’s response.
“Deeply distressed by the martyrdom of 4 brave Army soldiers, including an officer, in a terror encounter in Jammu & Kashmir’s Doda. Our heart goes out to the families of our bravehearts, who made the supreme sacrifice in the service of Bharat Mata,” Kharge said, expressing solidarity with the families of the fallen soldiers.
Kharge’s remarks underscored the gravity of the situation, emphasising the need for a recalibrated security strategy amidst the escalating violence in Jammu and Kashmir. ” Our thoughts and prayers are with the injured, and we wish them a speedy and complete recovery. No words of strong and unequivocal condemnation will suffice for these acts of violence being perpetrated by cowardly terrorists,” he asserted, calling for a united national effort against cross-border terrorism.
Congress party criticised the central government by posting a graphic on ‘X’ which claimed that within 38 days of the third term of the Bharatiya Janata Party government, nine terrorist attacks have already taken place.
The post also mentions that during these recent terrorist attacks, 12 soldiers were killed, 13 injured, 10 civilians were killed and 44 were injured.
People’s Democratic Party (PDP) chief Mehbooba Mufti said that from all over the country, soldiers come to Kashmir for their duty but go back in “coffins.”
“Soldiers from all over the country come to Kashmir for their duty, but go back in coffins. Who is responsible for this if you say militancy has ended in the valley?… In the last 32 months, especially since this DGP has been appointed, the maximum casualties have taken place… You people guard the borders. So whose responsibility is it to stop infiltration? Is it the responsibility of regional parties?” Mufti asked the government.
“There is no accountability. By now, the heads should have rolled. The DGP should have been sacked. Almost 50 soldiers have lost their lives in the last 32 months. No one is being held accountable,” the PDP chief said, addressing a press conference in Srinagar.
AIMIM Chief Asaduddin Owaisi said if the Modi-led Centre is following the policy of ‘Ghar mein ghus kar marenge” then what is happening there?
He further attacked the central government, saying that the series of attacks reflects a failure of the government.
“PM Modi used to say, ‘Ghar mein ghus kar marenge’. What is this then? This is a failure of the government. They are unable to control terrorism. Whatever has happened in Doda is very dangerous,” Owaisi said.
Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha expressed his condolences to the families of the soldiers who lost their lives in the Doda encounter and called upon the people to unite in the fight against terrorism.
“I am deeply anguished to learn about the cowardly attack on our Army soldiers and JKP personnel in Doda district. Tributes to brave soldiers who made supreme sacrifice protecting our nation. My deepest condolences to members of the bereaved families,” J-K LG posted on X.
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