Jammu and Kashmir: An officer critically injured during a gunfight with terrorists in Doda district has succumbed to his injuries, army sources confirm. The captain was severely wounded in a clash that occurred during a cordon and search operation (CASO) aimed at locating foreign terrorists in the Shivgarh-Assar belt.
The operation commenced in a densely forested area of Doda on Wednesday, following the detection of terrorist activity. Four terrorists were reportedly killed during the ongoing encounter. Security forces found four blood-soaked rucksacks and M-4 carbines at the site of the gunbattle.
The terrorists, who had crossed into Doda from a forest near Patni top in the adjacent Udhampur district, engaged in a brief exchange of fire with security forces there before moving to Doda. The engagement started around 6 pm on Tuesday in Udhampur and continued intermittently. The forces established a cordon overnight, resuming the search at daybreak.
As of 7.30 am today, a renewed exchange of fire occurred. The terrorists are reported to be holed up in a riverine area in Assar, and efforts to neutralize them are ongoing.