Srinagar:

The Jammu and Kashmir Police have launched a major crackdown on terror network after a deadly encounter in the Union Territory’s Doda in which four personnel of the army including an officer were killed in action on Monday.

The police say several overground workers and supporters of terrorists have been arrested and the crackdown has been intensified. Meanwhile, a counter-terror operation is underway in the Desa area of Doda.

A large number of troops from the army and para-military forces are conducting search operations and area domination in the region.

The firing was first reported in the Kalaan Bhata last night and then near Panchan Bhata at 2 am during the ongoing anti-terrorist operation in the Desa forest area, where four Army personnel were killed in the intervening night of Monday and Tuesday.

The Doda Encounter

Four Indian Army soldiers, including an officer, were killed in action during an encounter with terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir’s Doda district on the intervening night of Monday and Tuesday.

Captain Brijesh Thapa, Naik D Rajesh, Sepoy Bijendra, and Sepoy Ajay laid down their lives in the line of duty.

This was the second major encounter in the Jammu region after five soldiers were killed in action in Kathua last week.

The attack, in which five soldiers were also injured, was a coordinated strike on two trucks carrying at least 12 troops.

The terrorists targeted the trucks, which were around 500 metres apart, with grenades and, in worrying signs, used armour-piercing bullets (those tipped with hardened steel) and an M4 assault rifle.

Terrorist attacks, which started in Poonch and Rajouri districts, have now spread across Jammu, the region that was free from terrorism till a few years ago.

Over the last 32 months, 48 soldiers have been killed in action in the Jammu region. 

New Delhi:

Congress MP Rahul Gandhi has paid tribute to the four soldiers killed on Monday in an encounter with terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir’s Doda. “Today, our soldiers were martyred in another terrorist encounter in Jammu and Kashmir. I pay my humble tribute to the martyrs and express my deepest condolences to the bereaved families,” he posted in Hindi on X Tuesday morning.

Mr Gandhi, who is also the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, said the number of such attacks on Indian soldiers in J&K in the past few months is “extremely sad and worrying”.

He also hit out at the government for the “poor condition of Jammu and Kashmir” and said the soldiers there are “bearing the brunt of the BJP’s wrong policies”. The “wrong policies” reference has been seen as an attack on the Modi government over the scrapping of Article 370 in J&K.

“It is the demand of every patriotic Indian that the government should take full responsibility for repeated security lapses,” Mr Gandhi said and called for “strict action” against the terrorists.

आज जम्मू कश्मीर में फिर से एक आतंकी मुठभेड़ में हमारे जवान शहीद हो गए। शहीदों को विनम्र श्रद्धांजलि अर्पित करते हुए शोक संतप्त परिजनों को गहरी संवेदनाएं व्यक्त करता हूं।

एक के बाद एक ऐसी भयानक घटनाएं बेहद दुखद और चिंताजनक है।

लगातार हो रहे ये आतंकी हमले जम्मू कश्मीर की जर्जर…

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) July 16, 2024

However, Mr Gandhi also underlined the need for political unity at this time, and the importance of the opposition supporting the government as it responds to the increased terror threat.

“In this hour of grief, the entire country stands united against terrorism,” he said.

Four soldiers, including an officer, were killed in action in Doda district. The terrorists had attacked a joint operation – of the Army and J&K Police – formed to track them down.

READ | 4 Soldiers Killed In Action In Encounter With Terrorists In J&K’s Doda

Contact was made late Monday night, the Army had said.

The operation is ongoing, NDTV has been told.

Sources told NDTV Defence Minister Rajnath Singh spoke to Army chief General Upendra Dwivedi and took stock of the ground situation and ongoing operation in Doda.

This was the second major encounter in the Jammu region after five soldiers were killed in action in Kathua last week. That attack, in which five were also injured, was a coordinated strike on two trucks – with grenades and armour-piercing bullets, and an American-made assault rifle.

READ | Kathua Terror Attack On 2 Trucks, Armour-Piercing Bullets Used

The attacks, which began in Poonch and Rajouri, have now spread across Jammu, a region that was free from terrorism till a few years ago. In the last 32 months, 48 soldiers have been killed.

Earlier this month Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in Parliament the fight against terrorism in J&K is in its last stage, and that a multi-pronged strategy had been adopted to destroy the remaining network. “Our fight against terrorism in J&K, in a way, is in last stage, last leg. We are moving with a multi-pronged strategy to eliminate the remaining terror network there,” he said.

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New Delhi:

Four Indian Army soldiers, including an officer, have been killed in action in an encounter with terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir’s Doda district on Monday, taking the total number of Army personnel killed in the past 32 months to 48 in the Jammu region.

According to officials, the encounter broke out when a joint operation by the Indian Army and the Jammu and Kashmir Police was launched in the Desa area of Doda based on specific information about the presence of terrorists.

“Contact with terrorists was established at about 9 pm in which heavy firefight ensued,” Army’s 16 Corps posted on X on Monday night.

Timeline Of Major Attacks In Recent Past

July 16, 2024: Four Army soldiers were killed in action in Doda.

July 8, 2024: Five Army personnel were killed in action and five others injured after terrorists attacked a military convoy in Kathua district.

ALSO READ | “Lost 2 Sons In 2 Months”: Family Of Soldier Killed In Action In Convoy Attack

June 11-12, 2024: Six soldiers injured in twin attacks.

June 9, 2024: Nine people were killed and 33 injured after a bus full of pilgrims, attacked by terrorists, plunged into a gorge in Reasi.

May 4, 2024: One soldier of the Indian Air Force was killed in action and five others were injured when two vehicles, including one of the IAF, came under heavy terrorist fire in Poonch district.

ALSO READ | South Of Pir Panjal, Terror’s New Address In Jammu And Kashmir

December 21, 2023: Four soldiers killed in action.

November 2023: Five soldiers, including two captains, were killed in action.

April-May 2023: 10 soldiers martyred in twin attacks.

May 2022: Four persons were killed after a pilgrim bus was attacked in Katra.

December 2021: Four soldiers were killed in action.

PM Modi Reviews J&K Security

Amid rising terror incidents, Prime Minister Narendra Modi last month chaired a review meeting to assess the situation in Jammu and Kashmir.

He spoke to Union Home Minister Amit Shah and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and was given a full overview of the security-related situation of the Union Territory and the counter-terrorism operations being undertaken by the armed forces.

He also spoke to Jammu and Kashmir Lt Governor Manoj Sinha and was briefed on the efforts being undertaken by the local administration.

Sources told NDTV that the Prime Minister has asked the authorities to deploy the full spectrum of the armed forces’ counter-terror capabilities.

Jammu:

A brief gunfight took place between the security forces and terrorists in a forest area in Doda district of Jammu and Kashmir on Monday, officials said.

A police spokesperson said the exchange of fire between the two sides took place in the Desa forest area.

Further details are awaited, the spokesperson said in a statement tonight.

However, security sources said a brief encounter took place when the troops of Rashtriya Rifles and Special Operations Group of J&K Police launched a cordon and search operation at Dhari Gote Urarbagi in Bhagwah forest area around 7.45 pm.

The operation was launched on a reliable input about the presence of terrorists, sources said, adding reinforcements have been rushed to the area to strengthen the cordon.

The firing lasted for a brief period, the sources said, adding the search of the area was suspended for the night and will be resumed in the early morning hours on Tuesday.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Srinagar:

Three unidentified terrorists were killed on Sunday as army foiled an infiltration bid along the Line of Control (LoC) in Keran sector of Jammu and Kashmir.

The army said the anti-infiltration operation was going on till last reports.

“03x Terrorists have been eliminated in the ongoing anti-infiltration operation on the #LoC in Keran Sector, alongwith recovery of weapons and other war-like stores,” Srinagar-based Chinar Corps of the Army posted on X.

OP DHANUSH II, KERAN #Kupwara

03x Terrorists have been eliminated in the ongoing anti-infiltration operation on the #LoC in Keran Sector, alongwith recovery of weapons and other war-like stores.
The operation is continuing #Kashmir@adgpi@NorthernComd_IA

— Chinar Corps – Indian Army (@ChinarcorpsIA) July 14, 2024

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Jammu:

The body of a youth who died after jumping into the Chenab river here last month was recovered in Pakistan, following which his family sought Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s intervention to bring back the body for last rites.

Harash Nagotra, a resident of a border village in the Akhnoor sector, went missing on June 11 and his motorcycle was recovered on the banks of the river.

A police official said a missing report was registered by Nagotra’s family the next day.

Preliminary investigation suggested that he jumped into the river after suffering a loss of over Rs 80,000 in an online gaming application, the official said.

The family got the confirmation about Nagotra’s death through a WhatsApp message from a Pakistani official after the parents reactivated a SIM card of their son who worked in a private telecommunication company.

Nagotra’s father Subash Sharma said the WhatsApp message from the Pakistani official, who claimed to be posted in the post-mortem department, informed them that the body was recovered from a canal in Sialkot in Punjab province on June 13.

The official had informed the man’s father that the body had been buried. He also sent Nagorta’s identity card to the grieving family through WhatsApp, confirming that the body recovered in Sialkot is that of their missing son.

“We request our prime minister to help us get back the body of my son for last rites. We want to perform his last rites as per our religion,” Sharma said.

Nagotra’s relative Amrit Bhushan said they have already written to the External Affairs Ministry, Home Ministry and the Prime Minister’s Office over the matter.

“We are in a state of shock and grief and want his body back. We have also appealed to Pakistani authorities to hand over the body,” Bhushan added.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

After the central government amended the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganization Act, 2019 enhancing more powers of the Lieutenant Governor, Jammu and Kashmir National Conference leader Omar Abdullah on Saturday said that the Centre’s move would render the new Chief Minister “powerless” and indicates that the polls would be held soon in Jammu and Kashmir.

Earlier today, the Ministry of Home Affairs amended the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganization Act, 2019 enhancing some powers of the Lieutenant Governor of the erstwhile state.

“Another indicator that elections are around the corner in J-K. This is why a firm commitment to laying out the timeline for the restoration of full, undiluted statehood for J-K is a prerequisite for these elections. The people of J-K deserve better than a powerless, rubber stamp CM who will have to beg the LG to get his/her peon appointed,” Omar Abdullah posted on X.

Meanwhile, former Deputy Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir and senior BJP leader Kavinder Gupta said that changes are important.

“In the coming days, the elections of Vidhan Sabha will be held and looking after that the LG power has been enhanced. The changes are important and they should take place. Looking after that the Minister of Home Affairs has taken the decision. For Free and fair elections the step has been taken. In the recently concluded Lok Sabha election we all witnessed that people in Jammu and Kashmir voted with great zeal. After this decision the activeness will come in the administration,” Mr Gupta told ANI.

Reacting to Omar Abdullah’s remarks that CM will become ‘powerless’, he said that “Law and order already is under control of MHA. Commenting on the issue is not right. Earlier the conditions of J-K were not good but now the government has improved the law and order here.”

President Droupadi Murmu has given her approval to the amendments in the rule exercising the powers conferred by section 55 of the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019, (34 of 2019) read with the Proclamation dated 31st October 2019 issued under section 73 of the Act, a notification issued by the MHA mentions.

The President made the rules further to amend the Transaction of Business of the Government of Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir Rules, 2019.
“These rules may be called the Transaction of Business of the Government of Union Temtory of Jammu and Kashmir (Second Amendment) Rules, 2024,” reads the notification.

As per the notification, “these rules may be called the Transaction of Business of the Government of Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir (Second Amendment) Rules, 2024.”

The amendments shall come into force on July 12, the date of the publication in the Official Gazette– a move in anticipation of the speculated assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir.

In the Transaction of Business of the Government of Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir Rules, 2019 (hereinafter referred to as the principal rules), some rules have been inserted.

As per the inserted sub-rule (2A), “No proposal which requires previous concurrence of the Finance Department with regard to ‘Police’, ‘Public Order’, ‘All India Service’ and ‘Anti Corruption Bureau’ to exercise the discretion of the Lieutenant Governor under the Act shall be concurred or rejected unless it has been placed before the Lieutenant Governor through the Chief Secretary”.

In the principal rules, after rule 42, rule 42A has been inserted pointing, “Department of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs shall submit the proposal for appointment of Advocate-General and other Law Officers to assist the Advocate-General in the court proceedings, for approval of the Lieutenant Governor through the Chief Secretary and the Chief Minister.”

In the inserted rule 42B, “Any proposal regarding grant or refusal of prosecution sanction or filing of an appeal shall be placed before the Lieutenant Governor through the Chief Secretary by the Department of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs”.

In the principal rules, in rule 43, after the third proviso, the notification states that some provisos shall be inserted, focusing on matters connected with Prisons, Directorate of Prosecution and Forensic Science Laboratory, under which “the matters shall be submitted to the Lieutenant Governor by Administrative Secretary, Home Department through the Chief Secretary”.

“Provided also that in respect of matters connected with posting and transfer of Administrative Secretaries and cadre posts of All India Services officers, the proposal shall be submitted to the Lieutenant Governor by the Administrative Secretary, General Administration Department through the Chief Secretary”.

It is pertinent to mention that the principal rules were published in the Gazette of India dated August 27, 2020 and subsequently amended on February 28, 2024.

(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

New Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal being brought to Rouse Avenue Court by CBI in connection with the Excise policy case, in New Delhi on June 29, 2024.
| Photo Credit: ANI

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Srinagar:

Security forces have engaged terrorists in a forested area of Jammu and Kashmir’s Doda district.

Officials said the encounter broke after intelligence about the presence of two-three terrorists in the upper reaches of the district’s Goli-Gadi forest. The terrorists have been pinned down.

This comes a day after five soldiers were killed, and five others injured, in Kathua district, about 200 km away, after a coordinated terror strike on two military trucks carrying at least a dozen troops.

It is unlikely, sources said, the terrorists trapped in Doda were involved in Monday’s attack.

The Kathua attack was the second on the Army in the preceding 48 hours; on Sunday terrorists attacked a military camp in Rajouri. One soldier was injured but the attack was repulsed.

READ | Kathua Attack Saw Strike On 2 Trucks, Armour-Piercing Bullets

There are reports over 60 foreign terrorists – trained in jungle warfare – may be operating in the Jammu region alone, even as the shadow of fear has spread across all 10 districts of the province.

Over the last 32 months 44 soldiers have been killed in the Jammu region, which was believed to be free from terrorism. However, in most case the terrorists escape without suffering casualties.

India has vowed to avenge the Kathua attack.

READ | “Won’t Go Unavenged”: India’s Message On Kathua Ambush

Without naming Pakistan, the Defence Ministry said ‘evil forces’ will be defeated.

“Fight Against Terror In Last Stage”

Last week Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in Parliament the fight against terrorism in J&K is in its last stage, and that a multi-pronged strategy had been adopted to destroy the remaining network.

READ | Fight Against Terrorism In J&K In Last Stage: PM Modi

“Our fight against terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir, in a way, is in last stage, last leg. We are moving with a multi-pronged strategy to eliminate the remaining terror network there,” PM Modi had said.

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New Delhi:

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday said he was “deeply anguished” over the death of five Army personnel in a terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kathua district.

Singh said counter-terror operations are underway and the soldiers are determined to “usher in peace and order” in the region.

Five Army personnel were killed and as many were injured on Monday when a group of heavily armed terrorists ambushed a patrolling party in the Badnota area in Kathua.

I am deeply anguished at the loss of five of our brave Indian Army Soldiers in a terrorist attack in Badnota, Kathua (J&K).

My deepest condolences to the bereaved families, the Nation stands firm with them in this difficult time. The Counter Terrorist operations are underway,…

— Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) July 9, 2024

“I am deeply anguished at the loss of five of our brave Indian Army soldiers in a terrorist attack in Badnota, Kathua (J&K),” the defence minister said on X.

“My deepest condolences to the bereaved families, the nation stands firm with them in this difficult time. The counter terrorist operations are underway, and our soldiers are determined to usher in peace and order in the region,” he said.

“I pray for a speedy recovery to those who sustained injuries in this dastardly terror attack,” Singh added.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)