*Gun Battle Erupts in Doda: Two Soldiers Injured in Midnight Terrorist Ambush*
*Jammu, July 18:* The tranquil village of Jaddan Bata in Doda’s Kastigarh area transformed into a war zone early Thursday morning as a fierce gunfight broke out between security forces and militants. Around 2:00 am, the air was shattered by the sound of gunfire as terrorists launched a brazen attack on a temporary security camp set up in a government school.
The ambush, which lasted over an hour, left two soldiers with injuries, officials reported. The firefight erupted amid an ongoing and intense search operation in the region, triggered by the killing of four army personnel, including a captain, earlier this week. The operation, now in its fourth day, is a response to the escalating wave of terror attacks that have gripped the district since mid-June.
In a chilling pattern of violence, Doda district, which had been declared free of terrorism in 2005, has seen a resurgence of militant activity. The latest attack follows a series of deadly confrontations, including a brutal terror strike at Chattergala pass injuring six security personnel and a firefight in Gandoh that left a policeman wounded.
The Gandoh area witnessed another bloody encounter on June 26, resulting in the deaths of three terrorists after a grueling day-long battle. The violence continued with another skirmish in Ghadi Bhagwah forest on July 9.
Since the start of the year, the Jammu province has been rocked by nearly a dozen terror attacks across six districts. The death toll stands at 27, comprising 11 security personnel, a village defense guard, five terrorists, and seven pilgrims returning from Shiv Khori temple in Reasi district.
The security forces remain on high alert, determined to flush out the militants and restore peace in the troubled region. As the sun rose over the beleaguered village of Jaddan Bata, the sounds of gunfire faded, but the echoes of conflict and the resolve to end the terror threat linger on.