Militants escape after gunfights in Doda forest

DODA — After back-to-back gunfights at two different places in the Deesa forest area of the Doda district of Jammu region in the intervening night of Tuesday and Wednesday, militants reportedly responsible for the twin deadly attacks on the army managed to escape to the upper reaches.

Reports said that during a cordon and search operation in the Deesa forest area, militants fired upon the joint forces at around 01:00 am, and after a brief exchange of fire, they fled away from the spot. While escaping, they came across a Village Defence Group (VDG) and had a brief exchange of fire with it before absconding to the upper reaches of the area.

Reports added that choppers and helicopters have been pressed into service to track the militants.

An official confirmed to the news agency KNT that contact with the militants was established twice during the intervening night of July 16 and 17 and both the times, they fled from the spot after exchange of fire.

On Monday night, militants attacked a joint search party of the army and police personnel in the forest area, killing a Captain among four soldiers. On July 7, a soldier was critically injured after militants attacked the headquarters of a Territorial Army battalion in Galuti Patrara village of Manjakote Rajouri. The next five soldiers including a JCO were killed and an equal number of soldiers were injured in a militant attack in the Badnota area of Kathua district of Jammu region.

The combined forces have been conducting a series of joint and coordinated operations to track militants who reportedly are present in the upper reaches of Udhampur, Doda, and Kishtwar districts.

At least 11 soldiers have been killed in Jammu and Kashmir this month. Nine soldiers were killed in the Jammu region and two soldiers in twin encounters in Kashmir Valley. Besides, six soldiers and a cop have sustained injuries in the current month.