Doda, Jammu and Kashmir – Kashmir Tigers, a shadow group of the Pakistan-backed terror organization Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM), has claimed responsibility for the deadly encounter in Doda, Jammu and Kashmir, where four Indian Army personnel, including a major, were killed early Tuesday. The terror outfit stated that the clash and subsequent gunfire erupted when security forces launched a search operation for the “Mujahideen”.
According to news agency ANI, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh spoke with the Indian Army chief, who provided updates on the ground situation and ongoing operations in Doda. Kashmir Tigers had also claimed responsibility for the attack on an Indian Army convoy in Kathua on July 9.
Among the fallen soldiers was Major Brijesh Thappa of 10 Rashtriya Rifles, who had recently been promoted. The encounter began when troops from Rashtriya Rifles and the Special Operations Group of Jammu and Kashmir Police conducted a joint cordon and search operation at Dhari Gote Urarbagi in the Desa forest belt, approximately 55 km from Doda town, late Monday evening.
After an initial exchange of fire, the terrorists attempted to flee but were pursued by the brave troops, led by an officer, despite the challenging terrain and thick foliage. This led to another firefight around 9 pm in the woods. Five soldiers were critically injured in the encounter, and four, including the officer, later succumbed to their injuries. Helicopters and drones have been deployed to track down the terrorists.
Union Minister Jitendra Singh, an MP from the Doda Lok Sabha constituency, expressed his deep disturbance over the encounter reports. “Words fall short of condoling and condemning the martyrdom of our Bravehearts,” he said.
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge also expressed his distress, stating, “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.”
This tragic incident follows a series of recent violent clashes in the region. Earlier this month, five soldiers were killed after an ambush on an Army convoy, while two other soldiers and six terrorists were killed in separate encounters. In June, nine pilgrims were killed and dozens wounded when terrorists opened fire on a bus carrying them from a shrine in the southern Reasi area of Jammu and Kashmir.
