An army captain from Darjeeling was among four soldiers who were killed during a gunfight with heavily armed terrorists in Doda district of Jammu and Kashmir, a defence spokesman said on Tuesday.

Captain Brijesh Thapa (27) and the other three soldiers were critically injured in a gunfight with terrorists in the Dessa forest area of the Doda district Monday night. The soldiers succumbed to their wounds later, said sources.

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The Army has identified the soldiers who laid down their lives as Captain Brijesh Thapa, Naik D Rajesh, and sepoys Bijendra and Ajay.

This was the second major terror attack in the Jammu region after five soldiers were killed in action in Kathua last week.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi, Lt. Governor Manoj Sinha and all ranks of the Indian Army have conveyed their deepest condolences to the Bravehearts who laid down their lives in the line of duty, while undertaking the counter terrorist operation in Doda in order to ensure peace in the region.

“The Indian Army stands firm with the bereaved families in this hour of grief”, the Army spokesman said.

LG Manoj Sinha warned, “We will avenge the death of our soldiers and thwart the evil designs of terrorists and their associates’ ‘. He sought cooperation of people to destroy the terrorist ecosystem.

A defence spokesman said “a joint operation by Rashtriya Rifles (RR) with J&K Police was launched in the general area Urarbaggi, 10 km North of Doda on Monday. At about 2040 hrs, the search party was able to establish contact with the terrorists hiding in the area, which is a thickly forested and mountainous area with restricted visibility due to low clouds and rain.

In the initial volley of fire, four Army personnel were injured, who later succumbed to their injuries. Additional troops and equipment have been inducted to flush out the terrorists and use of drones and other technical resources is being ensured”.

Reports said that after a brief exchange of fire, the terrorists tried to escape but were chased by the brave troops led by Captain Thapa, despite challenging terrain and thick foliage, leading to another firefight in the woods around 9 pm, in which five security forces personnel were critically wounded.

The Army casualties have been reported within days after five soldiers, including a JCO, were killed in an ambush by terrorists in the neighbouring Kathua district.

The Doda district witnessed four gunfights with terrorists. Three Pakistani terrorists were killed and six Army jawans and a cop injured in exchange of fire.

Killing of nine soldiers, including a Captain and a JCO, within the past few days in the Doda and Kathua districts has triggered anger among the people.

A retired senior Army officer said; “We need to have a robust intelligence network in the South of Pir Panjal. Carry out intelligence based operations. No more loss of lives is acceptable”.

Having remained peaceful for almost 20 years after the Operation Sarapvinash in Rajouri and Poonch by the Army in 2003, terrorist attacks restarted in Poonch and Rajouri districts about two years ago and have now spread across the Jammu region.

Pakistani terrorists trained in jungle warfare are believed to be hiding at the ridges of the mountains, particularly the Pir Panjal ranges.