Two soldiers sustained injuries during a clash with militants in a forest village in the Doda district of Jammu and Kashmir early Thursday, according to officials.
The encounter occurred in the Jaddan Bata village in the Kastigarh area at around 2:00 am when militants opened fire on a temporary security camp set up in a government school during ongoing search operations, officials reported.
Security forces responded, and the exchange of fire between the two sides lasted for over an hour.
Officials stated that two soldiers suffered minor injuries in the militant attack, and efforts are underway to eliminate the militants.
Following the killing of four army personnel, including a captain, in a skirmish on the night of Monday and Tuesday, a large-scale search operation was launched in the Desa and nearby forest areas.
On Thursday, the operation entered its fourth day, and a brief exchange of fire occurred at two locations in the Desa forests on Tuesday and Wednesday nights.
Doda district, which was declared free of terrorism in 2005, has seen a series of attacks since June 12, when six security personnel were wounded in a terrorist assault in Chattergala Pass. The following day, a confrontation in Gandoh resulted in one injured policeman.
On June 26, three terrorists were killed in a day-long operation in the Gandoh area of the district, followed by another encounter in the Ghadi Bhagwah forest on July 9.
A total of 27 individuals, including 11 security personnel, a village defence guard, and five terrorists, have lost their lives in nearly a dozen terror incidents in six districts of Jammu province.
Among the deceased were seven pilgrims who were returning from the Shiv Khori temple in Reasi district on June 9.
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