In the late evening on Monday, another huge terror attack rocked Jammu and Kashmir claiming the lives of four Indian Army personnel, including an officer, and a police officer in the Doda district. The terrorist attack in J&K, which is the second in the same week, happened in the Desa woodland area, around 55 Km from Doda town, during a cooperative operation by the Rashtriya Rifles and the J&K Police’s Special Operations Group. Banned Terror outfit ‘Kashmir Tigers,’ linked to the Pakistan-backed terrorist group Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM), has taken responsibility for the brazen attack. Off late, terrorist activities in Jammu and Kashmir are on the rise raising concerns of a bigger terrorist attack who are currently active in the valley.
Pertinently, terrorist attacks, originating in the outskirts districts of Poonch and Rajouri, have now spread throughout Jammu, an area that remained free of terrorism until a few years ago. In the last thirty-two months, terrorists have claimed the lives of 48 soldiers in Jammu and Kashmir. Last month, Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged the Army to utilize all its anti-terrorist resources to eradicate terrorism.
Meanwhile, the Indian Army chief briefed Defence Minister Rajnath Singh about the ground situation and the ongoing operation in this volatile region. Sources reveal that the Defense Minister has given the army personnel a free hand and liberty to take action as per the situation. Furthermore, J-K LG Manoj Sinha expressed his condolences to the families of the soldiers, asserting, “We’ll avenge the death of our soldiers…”.
However, during the heavy firefight, terrorists hiding in the Doda district severely injured five Indian Army personnel. The country plunged into sadness as the commanding officer and three troops succumbed to their wounds despite receiving emergency medical care. The operation, driven by actionable intelligence, quickly intensified amidst the difficult woodland followed by an intense firefight that erupted as terrorists attempted to escape.
While Security forces have heightened their alertness throughout J&K as tensions mount in response to a wave of terror attacks that underscore the persistent and widespread threat in the area, the martyrdom of these gallant troops underscores the dangerous circumstances in which security personnel operate as they tirelessly work to protect the country. Precisely, the current terror attack comes after the Kathua terror attack where an army convoy was ambushed, the responsibility for which was claimed by the same group.
This heart-wrenching tragedy highlights the courage and selflessness of our armed forces in the face of adversity and marks another dejected chapter in the continuous fight against terrorism in J&K.
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