Two soldiers were injured when terrorists opened indiscriminate fire on a temporary camp of security forces which was being used during a search operation at Jaddan Bata village of Kastigarh area in Doda district early on Thursday.

The attack comes a day after terrorists were sighted in Desa forest area by security forces and Village Defence Guards (VDGs) which was followed by two brief encounters.

Thursday’s attack came at around 3 am when the soldiers were resting inside a government school after a massive search operation. The door and walls of the school were hit by bullets. Two soldiers suffered injuries out of whom one was critical and was airlifted to Command Hospital at Udhampur. It is believed that the terrorists were following the search parties.

“Swift action by Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) Air Force Station, Udhampur, saved a critically injured soldier’s life in Doda. Despite challenging weather, the evacuation was successful, ensuring timely medical care at Command Hospital,” the Army spokesperson said.

It is not confirmed whether the attackers were from the same group who killed four soldiers during an encounter in Desa forest area on Monday or a different group.

While both Desa and Kastigarh are dense forests located in Doda district, their distance cannot be covered within a short duration. Multiple sources in the security establishment said that the terrorists could be different as there are already 2-3 groups of foreign ultras moving in the higher reaches of the district.

Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police, Doda, Kishtwar and Ramban range, Shridhar Patil who visited Kastigarh said that a well-coordinated search operation was being carried out by different security forces when the attack took place. “We had a contact with the terrorists yesterday (Wednesday) also and they came in contact today early morning as well. We will soon get success,” said the DIG.

Heavy rainfall and dense fog disrupted the search operation during the morning hours which cleared as the day proceeded.

Interestingly, the Doda police have intensified a crackdown on the network of Over-Ground Workers (OGWs) from whom some vital information has been received by the security forces regarding the presence of Pakistani terrorists in the region.

The Doda police have arrested at least four OGWs who were linked with the recent spate of terror attacks. While three OGWs were arrested on June 18, one was arrested on July 18. All arrests were made from Gandoh area in Doda. One of the arrested OGWs, Showket Ali, is suspected to have provided logistic help to terrorists through which they contacted their handlers in Pakistan.

Capt Thapa’s cremation today

The mortal remains of Capt Brijesh Thapa, who was killed while combating terrorists in Doda, were brought to his hometown in Darjeeling district’s Lebong on Thursday. Residents gathered on both sides of the roads from Siliguri to Lebong to bid a tearful farewell to him. Darjeeling district magistrate Preeti Goyal confirmed the cremation would take place on Friday.

Courtesy: The Tribune India: 19th July , 2024