Jammu, July 16: Four army personnel, including an officer, lost their lives following a fierce gunfight with heavily-armed terrorists in Doda district of Jammu and Kashmir early Tuesday. The soldiers, part of a joint operation by the Rashtriya Rifles and the Special Operations Group of the J&K Police, were critically injured during the encounter and succumbed to their injuries, according to official sources.
The encounter began when the troops launched a cordon and search operation in the Dhari Gote Urarbagi area of the Desa forest belt, approximately 55 kilometers from Doda town, late Monday evening.

The terrorists attempted to escape after a brief exchange of fire but were pursued by the determined troops led by an officer. Despite the challenging terrain and thick foliage, the brave soldiers continued their chase, leading to a second firefight around 9 pm in the woods.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel
Five soldiers were critically injured in the exchange, with four of them, including the officer, succumbing to their injuries later. The sacrifice of these brave soldiers has deeply saddened the nation.
Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir expressed his anguish over the loss, calling it a cowardly attack. He paid tribute to the fallen soldiers and extended his deepest condolences to their families. He vowed to avenge their deaths and urged the people to unite against terrorism, providing accurate information to help intensify anti-terror operations and dismantle the terror ecosystem.