NEW DELHI: The opposition on Tuesday trained its guns at the Centre after four army personnel, including an officer, were killed in gunfight with heavily armed terrorists in Doda district of Jammu and Kashmir. This was the third major encounter between security forces and terrorists in the forests of Doda district in the past three weeks. The Doda incident comes a week after terrorists ambushed an Army patrol in the remote Machedi forest belt in Kathua district killing five soldiers.
The border districts of the Jammu region have seen a sudden surge in terror attacks since April this year.12 security personnel, including an Army captain, and 10 civilians have died in attacks while 55 people have been injured in the incidents.
While opposition parties expressed concern over Jammu region being targeted by terrorists, Army in a statement said they are committed to eliminate the scourge of terrorism from Jammu and Kashmir for which relentless operations will continue.
The Udhampur-based northern command said it has been conducting a series of joint and coordinated operations with Jammu and Kashmir Police to eliminate foreign terrorists who have infiltrated from across the border and are moving in the upper reaches of Udhampur, Doda and Kishtwar districts in Jammu region and thereafter to Kashmir.
‘Don’t indulge in false bravado, fake narratives’
Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge targeted the BJP-led NDA government and said “The spate of terror attacks that has gripped Jammu and Kashmir in the past 36 days, needs careful recalibration in our security strategy.”
“Modi Govt is acting as if everything is “business as usual” and nothing has changed. They must know that increasingly Jammu region is bearing the brunt of these attacks. We cannot endanger our national security by indulging in false bravado, fake narratives and high-decibel whitewashing,” Kharge cautioned.
Leader of opposition Rahul Gandhi alleged that the soldiers and their families were bearing the brunt of BJP’s wrong policies. “These continuous terrorist attacks are revealing the poor condition of Jammu and Kashmir. Our soldiers and their families are bearing the brunt of the BJP’s wrong policies. Every patriotic Indian demands that the government should take full responsibility for the repeated security lapses and take strict action against the culprits who harm the country and the soldiers. In this hour of grief, the entire country stands united against terrorism,” Rahul posted on X.
Delhi cabinet minister and AAP leader Saurabh Bharadwaj claimed that the Kashmir policy of BJP-led central government had “completely failed”.
‘Accountability should be fixed’
PDP president Mehbooba Mufti sought accountability for the “loss of 50 soldiers in the past 32 months” in terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir.
“Soldiers from all over the country come to Kashmir for their duty, but go back in coffins. Who is responsible for this if you say militancy has ended in the valley?… In the last 32 months, especially since this DGP has been appointed, the maximum casualties have taken place… You people guard the borders. So whose responsibility is it to stop infiltration? Is it the responsibility of regional parties?” Mehbooba Mufti asked the government.
“Your narrative has been going on for 6 years, what did you achieve? You have suffered a major setback in North Kashmir,” she added.
“The incumbent DGP is more busy fixing things politically. He is more into how to crush PDP and how to harass the people,” she alleged and added “We don’t need a ‘fixer’ here. We need a DGP. We have had DGPs from outside earlier who did a very good job”.
‘What happened to PM Modi’s claims?’
AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi said the terror attack in Doda is very worrying and dangerous as it is way inside the LoC. “PM Modi used to say ‘Ghar mein ghus kar marenge’. What is this then? This is a failure of the government. They are unable to control terrorism. Whatever has happened in Doda is very dangerous,” Owaisi said.
‘Security forces committed to eliminate scourge of terrorism’
Defence minister Rajnath Singh said he is “deeply saddened” by the death of four Army soldiers in an anti-terror operation in Jammu and Kashmir’s Doda district and asserted that the security forces are committed to eliminate the scourge of terrorism in the region.
‘We will avenge death of our soldiers’
Jammu & Kashmir lieutenant governor Manoj Sinha strongly condemned the terror attack and said that the death of soldiers at the hands of terrorists will be “avenged.”
“I am deeply anguished to learn about the cowardly attack on our Army soldiers and JKP personnel in Doda district. Tributes to brave soldiers who made supreme sacrifice protecting our nation. My deepest condolences to members of the bereaved families,” he posted on X.
“We will avenge death of our soldiers & thwart the evil designs of terrorists and their associates. I call upon the people to unite in the fight against terrorism & provide us accurate information so that we can intensify anti-terror operations & neutralise the terror ecosystem,” he wrote.
(With inputs from agencies)
The border districts of the Jammu region have seen a sudden surge in terror attacks since April this year.12 security personnel, including an Army captain, and 10 civilians have died in attacks while 55 people have been injured in the incidents.
While opposition parties expressed concern over Jammu region being targeted by terrorists, Army in a statement said they are committed to eliminate the scourge of terrorism from Jammu and Kashmir for which relentless operations will continue.
The Udhampur-based northern command said it has been conducting a series of joint and coordinated operations with Jammu and Kashmir Police to eliminate foreign terrorists who have infiltrated from across the border and are moving in the upper reaches of Udhampur, Doda and Kishtwar districts in Jammu region and thereafter to Kashmir.
‘Don’t indulge in false bravado, fake narratives’
Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge targeted the BJP-led NDA government and said “The spate of terror attacks that has gripped Jammu and Kashmir in the past 36 days, needs careful recalibration in our security strategy.”
“Modi Govt is acting as if everything is “business as usual” and nothing has changed. They must know that increasingly Jammu region is bearing the brunt of these attacks. We cannot endanger our national security by indulging in false bravado, fake narratives and high-decibel whitewashing,” Kharge cautioned.
Leader of opposition Rahul Gandhi alleged that the soldiers and their families were bearing the brunt of BJP’s wrong policies. “These continuous terrorist attacks are revealing the poor condition of Jammu and Kashmir. Our soldiers and their families are bearing the brunt of the BJP’s wrong policies. Every patriotic Indian demands that the government should take full responsibility for the repeated security lapses and take strict action against the culprits who harm the country and the soldiers. In this hour of grief, the entire country stands united against terrorism,” Rahul posted on X.
Delhi cabinet minister and AAP leader Saurabh Bharadwaj claimed that the Kashmir policy of BJP-led central government had “completely failed”.
‘Accountability should be fixed’
PDP president Mehbooba Mufti sought accountability for the “loss of 50 soldiers in the past 32 months” in terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir.
“Soldiers from all over the country come to Kashmir for their duty, but go back in coffins. Who is responsible for this if you say militancy has ended in the valley?… In the last 32 months, especially since this DGP has been appointed, the maximum casualties have taken place… You people guard the borders. So whose responsibility is it to stop infiltration? Is it the responsibility of regional parties?” Mehbooba Mufti asked the government.
“Your narrative has been going on for 6 years, what did you achieve? You have suffered a major setback in North Kashmir,” she added.
“The incumbent DGP is more busy fixing things politically. He is more into how to crush PDP and how to harass the people,” she alleged and added “We don’t need a ‘fixer’ here. We need a DGP. We have had DGPs from outside earlier who did a very good job”.
‘What happened to PM Modi’s claims?’
AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi said the terror attack in Doda is very worrying and dangerous as it is way inside the LoC. “PM Modi used to say ‘Ghar mein ghus kar marenge’. What is this then? This is a failure of the government. They are unable to control terrorism. Whatever has happened in Doda is very dangerous,” Owaisi said.
‘Security forces committed to eliminate scourge of terrorism’
Defence minister Rajnath Singh said he is “deeply saddened” by the death of four Army soldiers in an anti-terror operation in Jammu and Kashmir’s Doda district and asserted that the security forces are committed to eliminate the scourge of terrorism in the region.
‘We will avenge death of our soldiers’
Jammu & Kashmir lieutenant governor Manoj Sinha strongly condemned the terror attack and said that the death of soldiers at the hands of terrorists will be “avenged.”
“I am deeply anguished to learn about the cowardly attack on our Army soldiers and JKP personnel in Doda district. Tributes to brave soldiers who made supreme sacrifice protecting our nation. My deepest condolences to members of the bereaved families,” he posted on X.
“We will avenge death of our soldiers & thwart the evil designs of terrorists and their associates. I call upon the people to unite in the fight against terrorism & provide us accurate information so that we can intensify anti-terror operations & neutralise the terror ecosystem,” he wrote.
(With inputs from agencies)