An Army Captain and a militant were killed in an anti-terror operation of the security forces in the dense forests of the Shivgarh-Akar range of Doda, in Jammu and Kashmir, on Wednesday (August 14, 2024). A group of militants were encircled and engaged in a firefight on Tuesday evening, triggering a fierce encounter.
Officials said Captain Deepak Singh sustained bullet injuries when he was leading a patrol towards the hiding militants on Tuesday night and kept “engaging militants in a firefight twice in the night”. The militants were hiding in a riverine, making it difficult for the security forces to advance at the hiding spots. The encounter site was rattled by fierce exchange of fire between the security forces and the militants, whose number is believed to be three to four.
An Army personnel keeps vigil near the site of an encounter between security forces and militants, in Doda district of Jammu and Kashmir on August 14, 2024. | Photo Credit: PTI
An Army spokesman said one terrorist was neutralised in the ongoing operation. “One AK 47 and M4 rifle were recovered at the encounter site. Intermittent exchange of fire continues,” the spokesman said. Three rucksacks were recovered during searches in the area, officials said.
Joint operation
Once a militancy-free pocket of Doda, the Akar forests are close to famous tourist spot Patnitop. The Army on Tuesday launched a joint operation “based on specific intelligence inputs”. The security forces spotted the hiding militants around 7.30 p.m.
The Doda encounter was the fourth one in Jammu and Kashmir since August 10. Two soldiers and a civilian were earlier killed in Anantnag’s Kokernag area in a fierce encounter with militants, who managed to flee after the gunfight.
In a separate incident, a soldier and two porters were injured in a mine blast along the Line of Control in Poonch’s Mandi area.
Official sources said the blast took place close to the Tekri Post in Mandi around 2.30 p.m. Havildar Inderjeet Singh, Shakeel Hussain, a porter, and Neeraj Choudhary, a porter, were injured in the blast.
Captain Deepak Singh was killed in action after an encounter with militants in the Assar area of Jammu and Kashmir’s Doda district on August 14, 2024. Image Credit: Twitter/@Whiteknight_IA
‘Highly unfortunate’
Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Ministers, Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti, in separate statements, expressed concern over growing casualties among the security forces.
“Another young army officer lays down his life in the line of duty, this time in an encounter in Doda. It is highly unfortunate that the situation in some parts of Jammu region has been allowed to deteriorate like this. May Captain Deepak Singh’s soul rest in peace. I send my heartfelt condolences to his family and colleagues,” National Conference vice-president Abdullah said.
Ms. Mufti, president of the Peoples Democratic Party, said, “No words will suffice to express the tragedy at Doda today where Captain Deepak Singh was killed during an encounter. The endless cycle of violence and mayhem in Jammu and Kashmir continue to devour the lives of innocents despite tall claims of normalcy by the administration. My deepest condolences to his family.”
