Four Indian soldiers killed in gunfight with terrorists in Jammu & Kashmir’s Doda

Srinagar

Four Indian Army soldiers, including a Major, have been killed in gunfight during an encounter with terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir's Doda district on Monday night (Jul 15).

Captain Brijesh Thapa, Naik D Rajesh, Sepoy Bijendra, and Sepoy Ajay lost their lives in the line of duty, the Army said in an online post.

"General Upendra Dwivedi COAS and all ranks of Indian Army convey their deepest condolences to the Brave hearts Captain Brijesh Thapa, Naik D Rajesh, Sepoy Bijendra & Sepoy Ajay, who 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," the post by the army read.

A joint operation by the Indian Army and the Jammu and Kashmir Police was launched based on information about the presence of terrorists.

The Army posted on X on Monday night informing, "Based on specific intelligence inputs, a joint operation by Indian Army and JKP was in progress in General area North of Doda. Contact with terrorists was established tonight at about 2100h in which heavy firefight ensued. Initial reports suggest injuries to our brave hearts. Additional troops have been moved into the area. Operations are continuing."

The encounter began around 7:45 pm after troops from the Rashtriya Rifles and the Special Operations Group of the J&K Police launched a joint cordon and search operation at Dhari Gote Urarbagi in the Desa forest area.

Also read: CRPF soldier killed by militants in India's Manipur; CM Biren condemns attack

The injured were taken to the hospital and their condition was stated to be “critical”. 

Second attack in one week

This was the second encounter in the Jammu & Kashmir region after five soldiers were killed in Kathua last week.

The terrorists targeted the trucks, which were about 500 meters apart, with grenades and, in a troubling development, used armour-piercing bullets (tipped with hardened steel) and an M4 assault rifle.

It is worth mentioning here, that the terrorist attacks, which started in Poonch and Rajouri districts, have now spread across Jammu, the region that was free from terrorism till a few years ago.

Around 48 soldiers have been killed in action in the Jammu region, over the last 32 months.

Rahul Gandhi on Doda terror attack

Congress MP Rahul Gandhi paid tribute to the four soldiers killed in an encounter with terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir's Doda.

"Today, our soldiers were martyred in another terrorist encounter in Jammu and Kashmir. I pay my humble tribute to the martyrs and express my deepest condolences to the bereaved families," he posted on X on Tuesday (July 16) morning.

(With inputs from agencies)