Srinagar:

The Jammu and Kashmir Police have launched a major crackdown on terror network after a deadly encounter in the Union Territory’s Doda in which four personnel of the army including an officer were killed in action on Monday.

The police say several overground workers and supporters of terrorists have been arrested and the crackdown has been intensified. Meanwhile, a counter-terror operation is underway in the Desa area of Doda.

A large number of troops from the army and para-military forces are conducting search operations and area domination in the region.

The firing was first reported in the Kalaan Bhata last night and then near Panchan Bhata at 2 am during the ongoing anti-terrorist operation in the Desa forest area, where four Army personnel were killed in the intervening night of Monday and Tuesday.

The Doda Encounter

Four Indian Army soldiers, including an officer, were killed in action during an encounter with terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir’s Doda district on the intervening night of Monday and Tuesday.

Captain Brijesh Thapa, Naik D Rajesh, Sepoy Bijendra, and Sepoy Ajay laid down their lives in the line of duty.

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

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

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

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.

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

Jammu:

Security forces and terrorists exchanged fire twice briefly within a span of four hours in a forest area in Jammu and Kashmir’s Doda district, officials said on Wednesday.

They said the firing was first reported at Kalaan Bhata at 10.45 pm on Tuesday and then near Panchan Bhata at 2 am during the ongoing anti-terrorist operation in the Desa forest area, where four Army personnel were killed in the intervening night of Monday and Tuesday.

There are no reports of any casualties in the latest exchanges of fire. Taking advantage of the darkness, difficult terrain and thick foliage, the terrorists managed to slip away, the officials said.

Troops of Rashtriya Rifles and Special Operations Group of Jammu and Kashmir Police had launched a joint cordon and search operation at Dhari Gote Urarbagi in the Desa forest belt, some 55 km from Doda town, late on Monday evening following information about the presence of terrorists.

Despite the challenging terrain and weather conditions, efforts are underway to track down and neutralise the militants who have links with the banned Pakistan-based terror group Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM), the officials said.

The Army, along with para commandos and aerial support from drones and helicopters, is intensifying its search operation to eliminate the terrorists who have infiltrated from across the border and taken refuge in the forest area.

In a statement on Tuesday, the Army had said it had been conducting a series of joint and coordinated operations with the Jammu and Kashmir Police to eliminate foreign terrorists who had infiltrated from across the border and were moving in the upper reaches of Udhampur, Doda and Kishtwar districts in the Jammu region and thereafter to Kashmir.

“All formations of the Northern Command are committed to eliminating the scourge of terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir for which the relentless operations will continue,” the Army had said. 

(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

New Delhi:

Pride and grief were locked in a duel as Nilima Thapa fought back tears to speak about her son, Captain Brijesh Thapa, who died in an encounter with terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir’s Doda last night. “He will never come home,” Ms Thapa told news agency ANI.

Describing her 27-year-old son, she said, “He was very decent. He never complained about anything. And he always wanted to join the Army. We had told him that life is tough in the Army. He had also seen his father’s life, and he still wanted to join the Army.”

#WATCH | Siliguri, West Bengal: Nilima Thapa, mother of Captain Brijesh Thapa, who lost his life in an encounter in J&K’s Doda says, “…He was very decent. He always wanted to join the Indian Army…I feel very proud that he sacrificed his life for the nation…The government… pic.twitter.com/YO6X8rLBPp

— ANI (@ANI) July 16, 2024

Ms Thapa said she is a proud mother whose son has done something for the country. “But, there is also the fact that he is now very far away,” she said, her eyes welling up. She said the government must and will respond to these attacks.

Captain Thapa was a second generation Army officer and his father Colonel Bhuwanesh Thapa (retired) told ANI that he is proud that his son had sacrificed his life for the country.

“I could not believe when I was informed that he was no more. He always wanted to be in the Army, right from his childhood. He used to wear my Army dress and roam around. Even after he completed his engineering, he still wanted to join the Army.”

“He cleared the exam in the first attempt and joined the Army. I feel proud that my son has done something for the security of the nation. The sad part is we won’t be able to meet him again,” the veteran officer said.

Yogesh Thapa, the young officer’s uncle, urged the Centre to crack down on the terrorists. “He joined the service five years ago. He was unmarried. As a family, the loss we have suffered is impossible to cope with,” he said.

Besides Captain Thapa, Naik D Rajesh and sepoys Bijendra and Ajay were killed in the encounter that began last evening.

The encounter broke out after a joint team of the Army and Jammu and Kashmir police launched a search in Doda on the basis of intelligence inputs. White Knight Corps said the gunfight between forces and terrorists began around 9 pm yesterday.

The Indian Army has expressed its condolences and says it stands with the bereaved families in this hour of grief.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has expressed his condolences and said his heart goes out to the soldiers’ families. “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.

Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said the nation stands with the soldiers’ families.

“Capt Brijesh Thapa, along with Naik D Rajesh, Sepoy Bijendra, Sepoy Ajay sacrificed their lives fighting Jaish terrorists in Doda, Jammu Division last night. My deepest condolences to the families. The Nation stands with you in this toughest time of grief,” he said.

New Delhi:

Four Indian Army soldiers, including an officer, have been killed in action in an encounter with terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir’s Doda district on Monday, taking the total number of Army personnel killed in the past 32 months to 48 in the Jammu region.

According to officials, the encounter broke out when a joint operation by the Indian Army and the Jammu and Kashmir Police was launched in the Desa area of Doda based on specific information about the presence of terrorists.

“Contact with terrorists was established at about 9 pm in which heavy firefight ensued,” Army’s 16 Corps posted on X on Monday night.

Timeline Of Major Attacks In Recent Past

July 16, 2024: Four Army soldiers were killed in action in Doda.

July 8, 2024: Five Army personnel were killed in action and five others injured after terrorists attacked a military convoy in Kathua district.

ALSO READ | “Lost 2 Sons In 2 Months”: Family Of Soldier Killed In Action In Convoy Attack

June 11-12, 2024: Six soldiers injured in twin attacks.

June 9, 2024: Nine people were killed and 33 injured after a bus full of pilgrims, attacked by terrorists, plunged into a gorge in Reasi.

May 4, 2024: One soldier of the Indian Air Force was killed in action and five others were injured when two vehicles, including one of the IAF, came under heavy terrorist fire in Poonch district.

ALSO READ | South Of Pir Panjal, Terror’s New Address In Jammu And Kashmir

December 21, 2023: Four soldiers killed in action.

November 2023: Five soldiers, including two captains, were killed in action.

April-May 2023: 10 soldiers martyred in twin attacks.

May 2022: Four persons were killed after a pilgrim bus was attacked in Katra.

December 2021: Four soldiers were killed in action.

PM Modi Reviews J&K Security

Amid rising terror incidents, Prime Minister Narendra Modi last month chaired a review meeting to assess the situation in Jammu and Kashmir.

He spoke to Union Home Minister Amit Shah and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and was given a full overview of the security-related situation of the Union Territory and the counter-terrorism operations being undertaken by the armed forces.

He also spoke to Jammu and Kashmir Lt Governor Manoj Sinha and was briefed on the efforts being undertaken by the local administration.

Sources told NDTV that the Prime Minister has asked the authorities to deploy the full spectrum of the armed forces’ counter-terror capabilities.

New Delhi:

Four Indian Army soldiers, including an officer, have been killed in action during an encounter with terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir’s Doda district on Monday.

A Jammu and Kashmir police personnel is also said to have been injured when the encounter broke out in the Desa area of the Doda district on Monday night. 

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

“Contact with terrorists was established at about 9 pm in which heavy firefight ensued. Initial reports suggest injuries to our bravehearts,” the Army had posted on X on Monday night.

Op KOTHI – 2

Based on specific intelligence inputs, a joint operation by #IndianArmy 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…

— White Knight Corps (@Whiteknight_IA) July 15, 2024

At least five soldiers were critically injured in the encounter, officials had said.

Second Major Attack In Jammu Region

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

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

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

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.

Over the last 32 months, more than 40 soldiers have been killed in action in the Jammu region. 

There are reports over 60 foreign terrorists – trained in jungle warfare – may be operating in the Jammu region alone, even as the shadow of fear has spread across all 10 districts of the province.

Last month, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had asked the Army to deploy the full spectrum of its anti-terrorist capabilities to eliminate terrorism in the Jammu region.