The attack on Doda district was claimed by Kashmir Tigers, a shadow group of Pakistan-backed terrorist group Jaish-e-Mohammad
Jammu and Kashmir: On the night of 15th July, Doda district of Jammu and Kashmir was shaken by a terrorist firefight encounter. Four Army personnel, Captain Brijesh Thapa, Sepoy Bijendra, Naik D. Rajesh, and Sepoy Ajay laid down their lives in the line of duty. Additional troops have been moved into the area and the operation is still in progress.
Kashmir Tigers, a shadow group of Pakistan-backed terrorist group Jaish-e-Mohammad claimed this attack. This is the same group which had claimed responsibility for the attack on an Indian Army convoy in Kathua on July 9.
According to sources, the encounter took place when the troops of Rashtriya Rifles and Special Operations Group of Jammu and Kashmir Police launched a joint cordon and search operation late Monday evening at Dhari Gote Urarbagi in Desa forest belt, which is some 55 km from Doda town. The terrorists tried gto escape after a brief exchange of fire but our brave troops chased them. This led to another firefight in the woods at around 2100.
This encounter was the third in a series of encounters going on between the security forces and terrorists in the forests of Doda district since the past three weeks. A week before this incident the terrorists had ambushed an Army patrol in the remote Machedi forest belt in Kathua district. Five soldiers were killed and several others were injured in this exchange. This chain of terrorist encounters started a few months ago in Jammu and has resulted in numerous casualties among civilians and security forces. There was a terrorist encounter with the security forces in the Ghadi Bhagwah forest of the Kishtwar district on july 9th. A fiery exchange took place in Chattargalla pass on 12th June leaving five army personnel and a special police officer injured. On 26th of June, a three day long operation was held in the Gandoh area of the district wherein three forest terrorists were killed.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, offered condolences to the families affected through a post on his X account stating -“Deeply saddened by the loss of our brave and courageous Indian Army Soldiers in a counter-terrorist operation in Urrar Baggi, Doda (J&K). My heart goes out to the bereaved families. The Nation stands firmly with the families of our soldiers who sacrificed their lives in the line of duty. 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.”
The4 Indian Army too shared their condolences through X in a post stating- “General Upendra Dwivedi #COAS and all ranks of #IndianArmy convey their deepest condolences to the #Bravehearts Captain Brijesh Thapa, Naik D Rajesh, Sepoy Bijendra & Sepoy Ajay, who laid down their lives in the line of duty, while undertaking a counter terrorist operation in #Doda in order to ensure peace in the region. #IndianArmy stands firm with the bereaved families in this hour of grief