Army Captain Wounded, Four Terrorists Killed in Doda Encounter

An Army captain was critically wounded and four terrorists believed killed in an ongoing operation in Doda district, Jammu region. The encounter broke out during a search operation to track down foreign terrorists. A civilian was injured, and weapons recovered from the site.

An Army captain sustained critical injuries while four terrorists are believed to have been killed in an ongoing operation in Jammu's Doda district, officials said on Wednesday.

The encounter erupted in a densely forested area during a cordon and search operation (CASO) initiated by a joint team to track foreign terrorists hiding in the Shivgarh-Assar belt, sources disclosed. A civilian also suffered injuries in the gunfight, which occurred a day before Independence Day.

Authorities recovered four blood-soaked rucksacks and M-4 carbines at the scene. The militants are reportedly holed up near a river in Assar, according to an official.

The terrorists allegedly crossed into Doda from a forest near Patnitop in Udhampur district after a brief firefight with security forces. Officials revealed that security forces first engaged with the terrorists at around 6 pm on Tuesday in Udhampur. The encounter started half an hour later and continued sporadically until a temporary halt. A cordon was maintained overnight.

The search operation resumed at first light, and a renewed exchange of gunfire occurred around 7:30 am today, officials confirmed.

(With inputs from agencies.)