KATHMANDU: During a search operation in India-administered Jammu and Kashmir on Monday night, four soldiers were killed in a confrontation with suspected militants. The shooting occurred in Jammu's Doda district when security personnel were fired on by accused militants hiding in the bushes.
The armed revolt against Indian independence, which began in 1989, has claimed hundreds of lives in Jammu and Kashmir. Though violence has decreased in past years, attacks in the usually calm Jammu region have increased. At least eight violent incidents have been documented in the area since June. Among them was the attack on a bus carrying Hindu pilgrims last month, which resulted in nine fatalities and 33 injuries.
Last week, five soldiers died in an ambush in the Kathua area, showing the region's rising security concerns for Indian forces. In response to intelligence reports, security personnel conducted broad search operations throughout the Doda area to locate terrorists responsible for the recent violence.
India and Pakistan have long disagreed over the Kashmir region, with Delhi accusing Islamabad of harboring militants and destabilizing the region. Pakistan rejects the charges, but emotions remain high, escalating the dangerous region's security situation.
