In a tragic incident, Captain Deepak Singh of the Indian Army was killed in action during an encounter with terrorists in the Assar area of Jammu and Kashmir’s Doda district on Wednesday.
The clash, which also left a civilian injured, involved a group of four terrorists, according to sources. An operation has been launched to capture the remaining terrorists, one of whom is believed to be wounded.
The Army has expressed its deepest condolences to Captain Singh’s family, honoring his sacrifice.
The encounter took place in a dense forest area during a cordon-and-search operation (CASO) initiated by a joint security team. The operation aimed to track down the terrorists who were hiding in the Shivgarh-Assar belt, sources reported.
During the operation, security forces recovered a U.S.-made M4 assault rifle, along with three blood-stained rucksacks containing equipment and logistics from the encounter site.
ALSO READ: 2 soldiers killed in gunbattle with terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir
In a tribute to Captain Singh, the White Knight Corps tweeted, “All Ranks of #WhiteKnightCorps salute the supreme #sacrifice of #Braveheart Capt Deepak Singh who succumbed to his injuries. #WhiteKnightCorps offers deepest condolences and stands firm with the bereaved family in this hour of grief.”
Sources revealed that the Army received intelligence about the terrorists’ hideout the previous evening, leading to a brief exchange of fire that night. The operation resumed early this morning.
This encounter comes just a day before Independence Day celebrations, coinciding with a high-level security review meeting chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. The meeting was attended by senior officials, including Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, to assess the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir.
ALSO READ: Soldier killed, ‘Pakistani person’ dead in encounter along LoC in Kupwara of Jammu and Kashmir
The region has seen a surge in terrorist activities in recent months, particularly in the southern areas of the Pir Panjal range. The thick forests and steep mountains in this region provide cover for terrorists, raising concerns about a potential revival of militancy.
Earlier this month, the government announced a new security strategy for Jammu and Kashmir to counter the increased targeting of civilians and military personnel. This move follows several recent attacks, including an encounter in Anantnag district on Sunday that resulted in the deaths of two soldiers.
In July, Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a meeting to assess the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir, emphasizing the need for full deployment of counter-terror capabilities.
