This encounter occurred just a day before Independence Day celebrations and while Defence Minister Rajnath Singh was chairing a high-profile meeting attended by the Army Chief and the National Security Advisor.
An Army officer, Captain Deepak Singh, was killed in action on Wednesday during an encounter with a group of four terrorists in the Assar area of Jammu and Kashmir’s Doda district, according to sources. A civilian was also injured. An operation has been launched to apprehend the terrorists, one of whom was reportedly wounded.
The encounter took place in a forested area during a cordon-and-search operation (CASO) carried out by a joint security team to locate the terrorists hiding in the Shivgarh-Assar belt, sources said.
Security forces recovered a United States-made M4 assault rifle and three blood-soaked rucksacks, containing equipment and logistics, from the encounter site, according to sources.
Sources revealed that the Army received a tip-off about the terrorists’ hideout last evening, leading to an engagement with the enemy. A brief exchange of fire occurred that night, and the operation resumed this morning.
This latest terror attack in the Jammu region occurs just a day before Independence Day celebrations and as Defence Minister Rajnath Singh convenes a meeting with senior officials, including Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, to assess the security situation.
In recent months, there has been an increase in terror activities in the Jammu region, particularly in the southern areas of the Pir Panjal range. The dense forests and steep mountains in this region offer cover for terrorists, raising concerns about a resurgence of militancy.
Terrorism had long been dormant in this region.
Earlier this month, the government announced the implementation of a new security framework for Jammu and Kashmir to address the rising attacks on civilians, military personnel, and camps by terrorists. This follows incidents like the encounter in Anantnag district on Sunday, where two soldiers lost their lives in service to the nation.
Two civilians were also injured in that gun battle, where an Army patrol conducting a routine anti-terror operation in the Kokernag forests was targeted. In the same area last September, a Commanding Officer, a Major, and a Deputy Superintendent of Police were killed by terrorists.
Last month, one soldier was killed and another injured in an encounter in Kupwara district, during which the Army reported eliminating a “Pakistani intruder.” This attack occurred just a day after Kargil Vijay Diwas, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi asserted that the Army would overcome every terror challenge.
Last month, Prime Minister Modi chaired a meeting to assess the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir. Sources informed NDTV that during the meeting, the Prime Minister ordered the full deployment of the armed forces’ counter-terror capabilities.
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A senior official informed NDTV that the rising number of military casualties is the forces’ “primary concern.” As a result, deployment in the area is being strategically adjusted with specific objectives, including preventing cross-border infiltration, enhancing human intelligence, and improving tactical efficiency.