Indian Army Captain Killed in Jammu and Kashmir Encounter

An Indian Army captain from the 48 Rashtriya Rifles lost his life in a firefight with terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir's Doda district. The operation, involving both the Indian Army and local police, continues as the region remains on high alert ahead of Independence Day.

An Indian Army captain was killed in action during an encounter with terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir's Doda district on Wednesday, officials confirmed. Defense officials stated that the captain, a member of the 48 Rashtriya Rifles, was leading a search party when he was fatally shot.

The search operation, which began on Tuesday in the Assar area, is still ongoing. It was initiated by the Indian Army and the Jammu and Kashmir police following an earlier encounter. The White Knight Corps reported, '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 during the operation.'

Defense Minister Rajnath Singh held a significant meeting on Wednesday to address the rising number of terror incidents in Jammu and Kashmir. Key officials, including Defense Secretary Giridhar Aramane and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, were present. The region has been placed on high alert ahead of Independence Day to ensure public safety.

Earlier on August 10, a gunfight in Anantnag resulted in the deaths of two soldiers and a civilian. The encounter involved a joint operation by the Indian Army, Jammu and Kashmir Police, and CRPF. Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi paid tribute to the fallen soldiers, Havildar Dipak Kumar Yadav and Lance Naik Praveen Sharma.

In recent months, Jammu has experienced a surge in terror attacks, including an assault on an army convoy in Kathua and skirmishes in Doda and Udhampur. The Ministry of Home Affairs reported that 28 people have been killed in 11 terror-related incidents and 24 counter-terror operations up to July 21 this year.

(With inputs from agencies.)