JAMMU — Two soldiers were injured in an encounter with militants in a forest village in Jammu and Kashmir’s Doda district early Thursday, officials said.
The encounter took place at Jaddan Bata village in Kastigarh area around 2:00 am when militants opened fire on a temporary security camp established in a government school for the ongoing search operations, the officials said.
They said security forces retaliated and the exchange of fire between the two sides continued for more than an hour.
Two soldiers suffered minor injuries in the militant firing, the officials said, adding efforts are on to flush out the militants.
A massive search operation was launched in Desa and adjoining forest areas following the killing of four army personnel, including a captain, by militants in a firefight on the intervening night of Monday and Tuesday.
The operation entered fourth day on Thursday and also witnessed brief exchange of fire at two places in Desa forests on the intervening night of Tuesday and Wednesday.
Doda district, which was cleared of militancy in 2005, has witnessed a series of attacks since June 12 when six security personnel were injured in a militant attack in Chattergala pass, followed by a firefight in Gandoh the next day which left one policeman injured.
Three militants were killed in a day-long operation in Gandoh area of the district on June 26, while another encounter occurred in Ghadi Bhagwah forest on July 9. — (PTI)