At least 4 ultras involved, all were trained like commandos
*Helicopters, drones, Spl Forces deployed to track down killers
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, July 16: Four Army soldiers including a Captain, who was leading a group of 13 jawans from different directions to eliminate dreaded Pakistani terrorists at Dessa mountains in Doda district, attained martyrdom in the gun battle late last night while security forces continued operations to track down the ultras.
Follow the Daily Excelsior channel on WhatsApp
Para Commandos of Special Forces have joined the operations. Helicopters and drones have also been pressed into services to trace the terrorists who have fled deep into the forests after the encounter, officials told the Excelsior.
They said a team of 13 Army personnel launched operations in Dessa forests in mountainous area, about 30 kilometers from Doda after developing specific information about presence of a group of four Pakistani terrorists in the area. The team of four soldiers headed by Captain Brijesh Thapa moved ahead while nine others split into two groups and walked in separate directions.
Captain Thapa led team came into contact with the terrorists resulting into brief gun battle after which the terrorists fled deep into the forest area.
The team chased them inside the forests resulting into fierce exchange of firing. However, the terrorists had taken positions at advantageous places behind rocks in the dense forest cover. All four soldiers were seriously injured in the encounter. Other teams kept the terrorists engaged in the encounter but they fled further deep into the forests.
Injured Army soldiers were shifted to the hospital but they succumbed to the injuries.
The fallen soldiers were identified as Captain Brijesh Thapa from Darjeeling, West Bengal, Naik Dokkari Rajesh from Andhra Pradesh, and Sepoys Bijendra and Ajay Kumar Singh from Jhunjhunu, Rajasthan.
Click here to watch video
Bodies of the martyrs were airlifted to Technical Airport Jammu for wreath laying ceremony this afternoon and sent to their States by air with full military honours.
“The terrorists numbered at least four and were well trained like Pakistan Army commandos. They were equipped with sophisticated weapons and explosive devices,” the officials said.
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 patrol in the remote Machedi forest belt in Kathua district which claimed the lives of five soldiers and injured as many.
Despite the challenging terrain and weather conditions, efforts are underway to track down and neutralise the terrorists who have links to banned Jaish-e-Mohammad terror group. Army, along with Para-Commandos 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 erupted late Monday evening in the Desa forest area, where troops from the Rashtriya Rifles and Jammu and Kashmir Police had launched a cordon-and-search operation.
Despite challenging terrain and low visibility, the security forces engaged the hiding terrorists.
“In the initial volley of fire, four Army personnel were injured, who later succumbed to their injuries. Additional troops and equipment have been inducted to flush out the terrorists and use of drones and other technical resources is being ensured,” the Army said, withholding further details due to security considerations regarding the ongoing operations.
The Kashmir Tigers, a JeM shadow group, has claimed responsibility for the attack.
Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi and all ranks of the Army paid tribute to the bravehearts who laid down their lives while undertaking the counter-terror operation.
“Indian Army stands firm with the bereaved families in this hour of grief,” Additional Directorate General of Public Information of the Indian Army posted on ‘X’.
On July 9, terrorists managed to escape after an encounter with security forces in the nearby Ghadi Bhagwah forest bordering Kishtwar district. Three foreign terrorists were killed in a day-long operation in the Gandoh area of the district on June 26.
The anti-terror operations in Doda were intensified after a fierce exchange of fire in Chattargalla pass left five Army Personnel and a Special Police officer injured on June 12. A Policeman was injured in another encounter in Gandoh the next day.
The Jammu region, which remained relatively peaceful between 2005 and 2021 after security forces wiped out decades-long terrorism, witnessed a spike in terror attacks over the past month. It included an attack on a pilgrim bus that left nine persons dead and 40 injured.
Terror activities resurfaced in October 2021 from the twin border districts of Poonch and Rajouri. Some of the deadly attacks that spread to Reasi, Kathua and Doda were attributed by the security establishment as an attempt by Pakistani handlers to revive terrorism in the Jammu region.
Over 70 people, including 52 security personnel — mostly from the Army — have been killed in terror-related incidents in the Jammu region since 2021. Most of the casualties were from Rajouri and Poonch districts where 54 terrorists were also eliminated, the officials said.
Three terrorists were also killed in Reasi district and two others in Kathua district, they added
The Udhampur-based Northern Command is committed to eliminate the scourge of terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir, the Army said today, as it paid tribute to four soldiers who died in a gunfight with heavily armed terrorists in Doda district.
The Army said it has been conducting a series of joint and coordinated operations with Jammu and Kashmir Police to eliminate foreign terrorists who have infiltrated from across the border and are moving in the upper reaches of Udhampur, Doda and Kishtwar districts in Jammu region and thereafter to Kashmir.
A number of measures have been instituted to enhance synergy between various agencies, it added.
“These include joint training with J-K Police and Central Armed Police Forces and robust intelligence sharing mechanism between Army, police and other intelligence agencies,” the official release said.
“Clear guidelines have been enunciated towards ensuring no collateral damage and disruption in day-to-day life of the locals in the area. Close interaction with local populace is also ensured for flow of intelligence inputs,” the Statement said.
In light of the incidents in the recent past, the Army said the proactive counter-terrorist operations continue to be prosecuted.
Similar operations are being conducted in the Kathua area in a relentless manner, it said, adding series of operations in the recent past have resulted in neutralisation of three terrorists in Gandoh on June 26, besides successfully thwarting Chattargala terrorist attack on June 11.
Analysis of large quantity of warlike stores recovered from the dead terrorists reveal the hand of inimical agencies from across the border, the Army said.
It said similar intelligence-based and area domination operations are continuing in Kashmir region, North of Pir Panjal ranges.
“Line of Control and fence is intact and alert troops have recently neutralised three terrorists attempting to infiltrate along with large quantity of war-like stores in Kupwara region on July 14. Intelligence-based operations have also been conducted to foil infiltration attempts in Lam (Rajouri), south of Pir Panjal ranges on July 10,” the Statement said.
Meanwhile, VDGs have launched searches in Karlan Bhatta area of Doda after abserving suspicious movement.
Security forces have also reached the spot.
Meanwhile, the security forces launched a joint search operation following suspected movement of two persons in Poonch district today.
The troops are already on high alert along the border line and hinterland in the border district.
Acting swiftly on information about spotting suspicious movement of two persons near Betaar river, the Army and Special Operation Group (SOG) launched a search operation, the officials said.
The soldiers also questioned one person roaming in the area, they said.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
