Killing of four army personnel in Doda: Rahul Gandhi says slain personnel, their kin bearing brunt of BJP’s wrong policies

New Delhi: Reacting to the killing of four Indian army personnel, leader of opposition Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday said that India’s army personnel and their families have been bearing the brunt of the BJP’s wrong policies.

“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. Such horrific incidents one after the other are extremely sad and worrying. These continuous terrorist attacks are reflecting the dilapidated condition of Jammu and Kashmir,” Rahul Gandhi wrote on X in Hindi.

The Congress leader demanded that the government must take the responsibility for “repeated security lapses”.

“Our soldiers and their families are bearing the brunt of the BJP’s wrong policies. Every patriotic Indian demand that the government should take full responsibility for the repeated security lapses and take strict action against the culprits of the country and the soldiers. In this hour of grief, the entire country stands united against terrorism,” he added.

Four army personnl, including a major rank officer Major Brijesh Thappa of 10 RR sustained grievous injuries during initial exchange of fire between militants and armed forces late last evening in the forest area of Doda.

The operation started after the personnel of Rashtriya Rifles and special operations group of JK Police launched a joint cordon and search operation at Dhari Gote Urarbagi in the Desa forest area around 7.45pm.

Officials said Major Thappa along with four personnel and police personnel were injured in the exchange of fire, which initially lasted for over 20 minutes.

The injured were evacuated to hospital and their condition was stated to be “critical”. They later succumbed to injuries, the officials said, adding that additional forces were rushed to the spot and the operation is underway.

Officials added that after a brief exchange of fire, the militants tried to escape but were chased by the armed forces, leading to the exchange if fire.

This is the third encounter in Doda in the past three weeks. The latest incident follows a militant ambush on an Army patrol in the remote Machedi forest area of Kathua district in which five army personnel were killed.

The Jammu region, which remained relatively peaceful between 2005 and 2002, has been witnessing a spike in attacks over the past month. It included an attack on a pilgrim bus that left nine persons dead and 40 injured. (KNO)