Four Army personnel, including a captain, were killed in a fierce gunfight with heavily armed terrorists of Pakistan-based banned outfit Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) in Doda district, the third major terror incident in Jammu region in three weeks.
The attack on Monday night, which came a week after terrorists ambushed an Army patrol vehicle in Kathua district killing five soldiers and injuring as many, has sparked widespread condemnation and protests in Jammu and other regions.
Captain Brijesh Thapa from Darjeeling, Naik Dokkari Rajesh from Andhra Pradesh, and Sepoys Bijendra and Ajay Kumar Singh from Rajasthan suffered fatal injuries in the gunfight in the Desa forest area, where troops from the Rashtriya Rifles and Jammu and Kashmir Police had launched a cordon-and-search operation.
Following the encounter, security forces, including Rashtriya Rifles and Special Operations Group of Jammu and Kashmir Police, swiftly launched an extensive operation in the Desa forest belt to flush out terrorists.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said he is 'deeply saddened' by the loss of lives and asserted that the security forces are committed to eliminating the scourge of terrorism in the region.
Chief of Army Staff Gen Upendra Dwivedi also briefed Singh on the anti-terror operation in Doda district.
In a statement, 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.
"All formations of northern command are committed to eliminating the scourge of terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir for which the relentless operations will continue," the Army said.
The opposition parties, meanwhile, attacked the Centre, with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi saying such horrific incidents one after the other are extremely worrying and the Army soldiers and their families are bearing the brunt of 'BJP's wrong policies'.
The Kashmir Tigers, a JeM shadow group, has claimed responsibility for the latest attack.
Despite the challenging terrain and weather conditions, efforts are underway to track down and neutralise the militants who have links with the banned Jaish-e-Mohammad terror group, officials said.
The 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 the use of drones and other technical resources is being ensured," the Army said, withholding further details due to security considerations regarding the ongoing operations.
As the nation mourned the loss of these brave soldiers, tributes were paid to the soldiers in a solemn wreath-laying ceremony attended by dignitaries including J-K Lt Governor Manoj Sinha and Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi.
In a post on X, Sinha said, 'We will avenge the death of our soldiers & thwart the evil designs of terrorists and their associates. I call upon the people to unite in the fight against terrorism & provide us accurate information so that we can intensify anti-terror operations & neutralise the terror ecosystem.'
The sacrifices made by Captain Brijesh Thapa and his comrades serve as a poignant reminder of the valour and dedication displayed by the Indian Army in combating terrorism.
Captain Thapa's father Colonel Bhuwanesh K Thapa (retd) recalled that his son was inspired by him and since his childhood wanted to join the Indian Army.
"I feel proud of my son. This is an Army operation and there is always risk in such ops," the retired Army officer said.
In Rajasthan's Jhunjhunu district, the native villages of soldiers Bijendra and Ajay Singh were grieving the loss of the bravehearts.
There has been a resurgence of terror activities in Jammu in recent months, underscoring the persistent threat posed by extremist elements seeking to destabilise the peace in the region.
The Jammu region, once relatively peaceful, has witnessed a surge in terrorist activities since 2021. Over 70 people, including 52 security personnel, mostly from the Army, have lost their lives in these attacks.
The security forces remain vigilant in their efforts to safeguard the lives of civilians and defend the sovereignty of the nation against such acts of violence, the officials said.
Political parties in Jammu and Kashmir including two main regional parties -- the National Conference and the PDP -- condemned the Doda incident.
The People's Democratic Party chief, Mehbooba Mufti, demanded the sacking of J-K Director General of Police (DGP) R R Swain.
Mufti expressed concerns over the increasing casualties among young Army officers in the region and sought accountability for the 'loss of 50 soldiers in the past 32 months' in terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir, saying 'heads should have rolled by now' and the DGP should have been sacked.
In Ranchi, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said India will give a befitting reply to Pakistan-sponsored terrorism, underscoring the country's commitment to ensuring peace in the region.
Congress workers held anti-Pakistan protests in Jammu and criticised the BJP-led government for the 'failure of the security grid' in Jammu and Kashmir to address the escalating terrorist activities.
Led by Jammu and Kashmir Congress working president Raman Bhalla, hundreds of workers took out a march and raised anti-Pakistan slogans.
They demanded immediate comprehensive operations to clear the hills of Jammu of terrorist elements.
