“Deeply disturbed” says Union Minister Jitendra Singh as four soldiers lost their lives in Doda encounter

New Delhi [India], July 16 (ANI): Union Minister Jitendra Singh expressed deep concern after four soldiers including an officer, lost their lives in action during an encounter with terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir’s Doda district.

Earlier, four Indian Army soldiers, including an officer, were killed in action during an encounter with terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir’s Doda district.

“Deeply disturbed by the reports of armed encounter in Dessa area of district #Doda in my Lok Sabha constituency. Words fall short of condoling and condemning the martyrdom of our Bravehearts. Let all of us join together to defeat the nefarious designs of the enemy and, maintain the peace and harmony for which Doda has always been known for,” Singh posted on X.

Meanwhile, Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge on Tuesday said that he is distressed by the deaths of four soldiers, including an officer in Doda.

“Deeply distressed by the martydom of 4 brave Army soldiers, including an officer, in a terror encounter in Jammu and Kashmir’s Doda. Our heart goes out to the families of our bravehearts, who made the supreme sacrifice in the service of Bharat Mata. Our thoughts and prayers are with the injured, and we him a speedy and complete recovery. No words of strong and unequivocal condemnation will suffice for these acts of violence being perpetrated by cowardly terrorists,” Kharge posted on X.

“The spate of terror attacks that has gripped Jammu and Kashmir in the past 36 days, needs careful recalibration in our security strategy. Modi government is acting as if everything is “business as usual” and nothing has changed. They must know that increasingly Jammu region is bearing the brunt of these attacks. We cannot endanger our National Security by indulging in false bravado, fake narratives and high-decibel whitewashing. As a nation, we have to collectively fight the scrouge of cross-border terrorism. The Indian National Congress stands strongly with our valiant Armed Forces,” he added.

The Indian Army used a helicopter to carry out a search operation in the forests of Doda as the hunt for terrorists in the region is on.

According to officials, a joint operation was launched by the Army and Jammu and Kashmir police on Monday evening following an exchange of fire with terrorists in Dessa area of the district.

They said that additional troops have been called in to tighten the cordon.

Earlier on Monday, Jammu and Kashmir Police recovered old-rusted arms and ammunition from a terrorist hideout in the Reasi district of Jammu and Kashmir.
The recovery items include 30 rounds of AK-47, one magazine of AK-47 rifle, and one HE-36 hand grenade, as per the officials.

This comes against the backdrop of the recent terror attacks in the Jammu region, including the terror attack at the army convoy in Kathua and encounters in Doda and Udhampur, which are in the Jammu region.