Four army personnel, including an officer, succumbed to injuries sustained during a gunfight with heavily-armed militants in Doda district, Jammu Kashmir.
The encounter, officials told The Kashmiriyat, occurred late Monday evening when the Rashtriya Rifles and Special Operations Group of J&K Police launched a joint operation at Dhari Gote Urarbagi in the Desa forest belt, approximately 55 km from Doda town.
After after an initial exchange of fire, the terrorists attempted to flee but were pursued by the troops, they said.
This led to another firefight in the dense forest around 9 p.m.
Five soldiers were critically injured in the encounter, and four of them, including an officer, later died from their injuries.
The operation was initiated based on intelligence regarding the presence of terrorists in the area.
A police spokesperson confirmed the exchange of fire but stated that further details were awaited.
The Army’s 16 Corps, known as the White Knight Corps, noted that additional troops had been deployed and the operation was ongoing.