Four Indian Army soldiers, including an officer, were killed in action during an encounter with militants in Jammu and Kashmir’s Doda district on Monday. The encounter took place during a joint operation by the Indian Army and the Jammu and Kashmir Police in the Desa area of Doda, based on specific information about the presence of militants.
“Contact with terrorists was established at about 9 pm, and a heavy firefight ensued. Initial reports suggest injuries to our bravehearts,” the Army posted on X on Monday night.
At least five soldiers were critically injured in the encounter, officials reported. Sources confirmed that Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has spoken to the Indian Army chief, General Upendra Dwivedi, to take stock of the ground situation and ongoing operation in Doda.
Second Major Attack in Jammu Region in One Week
This was the second major encounter in the Jammu region within a week, following an attack in Kathua last week that resulted in the deaths of five soldiers. In that attack, five soldiers were also injured when militants launched a coordinated strike on two trucks carrying at least 12 troops. The militants targeted the trucks, which were around 500 meters apart, with grenades and used armor-piercing bullets and an M4 assault rifle.
Militant attacks, which initially began in Poonch and Rajouri districts, have now spread across Jammu, a region that was free from militancy until a few years ago. Over the last 32 months, 48 soldiers have been killed in action in the Jammu region.
Reports indicate that over 60 foreign militants, trained in jungle warfare, may be operating in the Jammu region, spreading fear across all 10 districts of the province.
Last month, Prime Minister Narendra Modi asked the Army to deploy the “full spectrum of its anti-terrorist capabilities to eliminate terrorism” in the Jammu region.
