FOUR Army personnel, including a captain, lost their lives in a fierce gunfight with heavily armed terrorists of Pakistan-based banned outfit Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) in Doda district of Jammu and Kashmir. The fallen soldiers were identified as Captain Brijesh Thapa from Darjeeling, Naik Dokkari Rajesh from Andhra Pradesh, and Sepoys Bijendra and Ajay Kumar Singh from Rajasthan. The encounter, which took place in the dense forests of Doda district late Monday evening, has sparked widespread condemnation and protests in Jammu and other regions. In New Delhi, the Opposition Congress attacked the Centre with Rahul Gandhi asserting that the Government should take full responsibility for the repeated security lapses and take strict action against the culprits. Gandhi also said such horrific incidents one after the other are extremely sad and worrying, and that Army soldiers and their families are bearing the brunt of “BJP’s wrong policies”.

 

The latest incident marks the third major clash between security forces and terrorists in Jammu region within the past three weeks, highlighting the escalating tensions in the area. It comes a week after terrorists ambushed an Army patrolin theremoteMachedi forest belt in Kathua district which claimed the lives of five soldiers and injured as many. The KashmirTigers,aJeM shadow group, has claimed responsibility for the attack. Security forces, including troopsof theRashtriyaRifles and Special Operations Group of Jammu and Kashmir Police, swiftly launched a joint cordon and search operationin theDesa forest belt following the encounter. Despite the challenging terrain and weather conditions, efforts are underway to track down and neutralise the militants who have links to banned Jaish-eMohammad terror group, officials said. TheArmy,alongwithparacommandos and aerial support from drones and helicopters, is intensifying its search operation to eliminate the terrorists who are suspected to have infiltrated from across the border and taken refuge in the forest area.

 

In an official statement, the Army said the gunfight eruptedlateMondayevening in theDesa forestarea,where troops from the Rashtriya Rifles and Jammu and KashmirPolicehadlaunched a cordon-and-search operation.Despitechallenging terrain and low visibility, the security forces engaged the hiding terrorists. DEEPLY SADDENED: RAJNATH ON DEATH OF 4 SOLDIERS IN DODA ANTITERROR OPERATION: DEFENCE Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday said he is “deeply saddened” by the death of four Army soldiers in an anti-terroroperationin Jammu and Kashmir’s Doda district and asserted that the security forces are committed to eliminate the scourge of terrorism in the region. ChiefofArmyStaffGeneral Upendra Dwivedi briefed Singh on the ongoing operation. “Deeply saddened by the loss of our brave and courageous Indian Army Soldiers in a counter terrorist operation in Urrar Baggi, Doda (J&K),” Singh said on X. “My heart goes out to the bereaved families. The Nationstands firmlywiththe families of our soldiers who have sacrificed their lives in the line of duty,” he said. TheDefenceMinister said the counter terrorist operations areunderway, and“our soldiers remain committed to eliminate the scourge of terrorism and restore peace and order in the region.”