Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has been apprised about the ground situation in Jammu & Kashmir's Doda in the wake of the terrorist attack that claimed the lives of four jawans and one officer of  Captain rank on Monday night. Indian Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi has informed Rajnath Singh about the ongoing search operation in Doda, news agency ANI quoted sources.






'Will Avenge Death Of Our Soldiers': J&K L-G On Latest Doda Encounter 


Jammu & Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha said that the death of the soldiers will be avenged. He urged the people of the Union Territory to help in tracking terrorists. "I am deeply anguished to learn about the cowardly attack on our Army soldiers and JKP personnel in Doda district. Tributes to brave soldiers who made supreme sacrifice protecting our nation. My deepest condolences to members of the bereaved families," he said in an X post.






'Doda Encounter Part Of Pakistan's Larger Infiltration Plan'


The five soldiers were killed in the encounter that took place in the Dhari Gote Urarbagi in the Desa forest area in North Doda around 9 PM. The shootout with the terrorists happened when personnel of the Rashtriya Rifles and the Special Operations Group of Jammu and Kashmir Police launched a joint cordon & search operation.


"Contact with terrorists was established tonight at about 2100h in which heavy firefight ensued. Initial reports suggest injuries to our bravehearts. Additional troops have been moved into the area. Operations are continuing," the Indian Army's White Knight Corps said.






Taking advantage of the mountainous terrain and the thick forest cover, the terrorists managed to escape after the gunfight. The army has also deployed choppers in the area for surveillance. The search operation is likely to last long.






Major General (retd) PK Sehgal said that around one month ago, 60 highly trained Pakistani terrorists infiltrated the Kashmir valley. "Many of them have been killed, however, still, a lot of them are present here. It is now important to identify them using drones, helicopters, and surveillance. They are highly trained and have the latest weapons and micro-satellite communication sets which are difficult to trace," Sehgal said.










 






Intensified Terrorist Activities In J&K 


Search operations have been going on in the Doda area for over a week now after the gunfight between terrorists and security forces in the Goli-Gadi area. Terrorists have become highly active in Jammu & Kashmir over the past few months. Terrorists have been attacking security forces and civilians with brazen boldness, claiming several lives.


Terrorist attacks in the recent past:


July 8: Five soldiers were killed in a terrorist attack on an Army camp in Kathua's Badnote village in the Lohai block  


July 7: One soldier was injured in an attack on an Army camp in Rajouri.


June 26: Three terrorists were killed in a shootout in Doda.


June 11-12: Terrorists launched three simultaneous attacks in Doda district. The attacks left one jawan dead and six security personnel injured in Chattargalla. One policeman was injured in a shootout with terrorists at Kota top in the Gandoh area.


June 9: At least nine civilians were killed in the Reasi bus attack when terrorists opened fire on Vaishno Devi pilgrims.