Encounter underway in J-K's Doda district, one jawan martyr and terrorist killed

An encounter broke out between terrorists and security forces in a village in Jammu and Kashmir's Doda district on Sunday, police said.“An Army jawan was martyred in the encounter which is still underway,” defence spokesperson Lt Col Devender Anand said on Sunday. The encounter started when security forces launched a joint operation in Posta-Potra village in Gundana area, 26 kms from Doda town, following information about presence of some terrorists, a police official said.

Reinforcements have been rushed to the area and further details are awaited, the official said. Two Hizbul Mujahideen terrorists were arrested in Doda district earlier this month. IGP Jammu, Mukesh Singh said that one terrorist has also been killed in the ongoing encounter. The slain terrorist belongs to Hizbul Mujahideen. Another terrorist has been injured in the exchange of fire, police sources informed. According to inputs from sources, a terrorist has been identified by the forces by the name Auqaaf - an associate of slain Haroon Abbas Wani.

There has been a spurt in terror activities across J&K amid the coronavirus pandemic. Jammu’s Doda—comprising Doda, Kishtwar and Ramban districts which have been declared militancy free—have also witnessed terror attacks and related activities amid the lockdown. A day after Hizbul Mujahideen’s chief Riyaz Naikoo was killed in Kashmir, security forces on May 7 arrested an overground worker of the outfit from Doda district. He was identified as Raqib Alam, 22, son of Seeraj Din of Swanda village.