Army officer among five security personnel injured in Doda gunfight

Srinagar, July 16: Five security personnel, including an Army officer, were critically wounded in a gunfight with terrorists in the Dessa area of Doda district of Jammu and Kashmir last night, officials said.

An official said that the gunfight broke out after a joint team of Special Operations Group (SOG) of J&K police and the army launched a search operation at Dhari Gote Urarbagi in the Dessa forest area around 7.45 pm.

A policeman and five soldiers were wounded in the fierce of exchange of gunfire that lashed for nearly 20 minutes, he said, adding the injured were moved to a hospital. However, their condition is stated to be critical, he said.

Reinforcements have been rushed to the site of the gunfight and operation is underway, said the official.

Confirming the exchange of fire, an army spokesman said on X: “Based on specific intelligence inputs, a joint operation by Indian Army and JKP was in progress in the general area North of Doda. Contact with terrorists was established tonight at about 2100 hours in which heavy firefight ensued. Initial reports suggest injuries to our bravehearts.

“Additional troops have been moved into the area. Operations are continuing,” added the spokesman of 16 Corps.