Security forces fired back at terrorists in an exchange of gunfire in the Kastigarh area of Doda district in Jammu and Kashmir. The details of the encounter were shared by the police on Thursday, indicating the renewed terrorist activity in the valley. This happened after five soldiers were martyred in an encounter in Doda on Monday evening.

The Jammu and Kashmir Police confirmed that an exchange of fire has started in the Kastigarh area of Doda. Further details are not known yet. Sources claimed that in the exchange of fire, one soldier has been injured. This becomes the sixth encounter with terrorists in the Doda district of Jammu division within a month.

Martyred in Doda Clash

Before this, during treatment in the hospital, an officer and 5 soldiers died in a clash that occurred Monday evening. According to news agency PTI, the encounter took place when personnel from the National Rifles and Jammu and Kashmir Police’s Special Operations Group initiated a joint search operation in the Dara forest area, about 55 km away from Doda city, late Monday evening.

A brief exchange of gunfire, and the terrorists tried to flee. Then, the brave soldiers led by an officer chased them through treacherous dense forests and got into another encounter around 9 PM in the jungle.

Officials said five soldiers were seriously injured in this encounter and were admitted to the hospital for treatment. During treatment on Tuesday morning, all succumbed to their injuries. The martyred soldiers included an officer from the army and three soldiers, along with a member of the Jammu and Kashmir Police.

Responsibility for the Doda attack had been claimed by the Kashmir Tigers terrorist outfit. This outfit is a unit of the Jaish-e-Mohammed, and recently it had claimed responsibility for the attack on the army convoy in Kathua. Security forces have been on high alert in the Jammu region following multiple terrorist attacks in recent weeks.