Four Indian Army Soldiers Including An Officer Killed In Encounter With Terrorists In J&K's Doda District

Four Indian Army soldiers, including a Captain, were killed in action during an encounter with terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir's Doda district on Monday (15 July).

The Indian Army and the Jammu and Kashmir Police launched a joint operation in the Desa area of Doda based on specific input about the presence of terrorists, according to the officials.

In a statement, the Indian Army said that Captain Brijesh Thapa, Naik D Rajesh, Sepoy Bijendra, and Sepoy Ajay laid down their lives in the line of duty during the counter-terrorist operation.

The attack was claimed by 'Kashmir Tigers', a shadow group of Pakistan-backed terrorist group Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM).

In a post on X, the Army said that contact with the terrorists was made around 9 pm, leading to an intense exchange of fire.

"Initial reports suggest injuries to our bravehearts," it said.

According to the officials cited in an NDTV report, at least five soldiers were critically injured in the encounter.

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

The attack, which also injured five soldiers, was a coordinated strike targeting two trucks carrying at least 12 troops.

The terrorists targeted the trucks, which were around 500 metres apart, with grenades and armor-piercing bullets (those tipped with hardened steel) and an M4 assault rifle.

Terrorist activities that initially began in Poonch and Rajouri districts have now extended to Jammu, a region that was previously unaffected by such incidents until recent years.

In the past 32 months, 48 soldiers have been killed in action in the Jammu region.

Reports suggest that over 60 foreign militants, trained in jungle warfare, might be active in the Jammu region, casting a shadow of fear across all 10 districts of the province.

Last month, Prime Minister Narendra Modi directed the Army to utilise its complete range of anti-terrorism capabilities to eradicate terrorism in the Jammu region.

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