Army Captain succumbs to injuries in encounter with terrorists in J&K’s Doda

DODA (Jammu and Kashmir): A Captain of the Indian Army lost his life in action during an encounter with terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir’s Doda district on Wednesday, officials said.

According to defence officials, “A Captain of the Indian Army from the 48 Rashtriya Rifles was killed in action during the ongoing Op Assar in Doda district”. The soldier was injured while leading a search party during the operation. The  operation that began on Tuesday in the Assar area is still in progress, they said.

The search operation was launched by the Indian Army and the Jammu and Kashmir police after the encounter started. White Knight Corps said earlier in the day, “Search for the terrorists continues amidst a heavy firefight. One officer has been injured while leading the search party. War-like stores have been recovered as operations”.

#WATCH | J&K: An encounter started yesterday evening in the Assar area of Doda. Indian Army and J&K police have launched cordon and search operation in the Akar forest

(Visuals deferred by unspecified time) pic.twitter.com/pMPzQO4uPK

— ANI (@ANI) August 14, 2024

Earlier today, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday convened an important meeting on the “rising” terror-related incidents in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. As per officials, Defence Secretary Giridhar Aramane, National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi, Director General of Military Operations-Lieutenant General Pratik Sharma and heads of the security-related agencies were present in the meeting held at South Block.

The development comes a day ahead of Independence Day on August 15.Meanwhile, security forces across Jammu and Kashmir have been placed on high alert ahead of Independence Day to ensure public safety.

On August 10, at least two soldiers and a civilian were killed during a gunfight between the terrorists and the security forces in Anantnag. The encounter broke out during a joint operation launched by the Indian Army, Jammu and Kashmir Police and CRPF in the general area of Kokernag in Anantnag.

Havildar Dipak Kumar Yadav and Lance Naik Praveen Sharma laid down their lives in the line of duty in Anantnag. Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi and all ranks of the Indian Army paid tribute to Havildar Dipak Kumar Yadav and Lance Naik Praveen Sharma, who lost their lives during the encounter.

In recent months, Jammu has seen an increase in terror attacks, including an assault on an army convoy in Kathua and skirmishes in Doda and Udhampur.

In July, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) reported to the Lok Sabha that 28 people, including civilians and security personnel, were killed in 11 terror-related incidents and 24 counter-terror operations up to July 21 this year. (ANI)