An army major was killed and a hawaldar injured in an encounter with militants last evening in Doda while a Jamat-e-Islami leader had a narrow escape in a bomb blast in the same district. 

Official sources said today that a Rashtriya Rifles platoon led by Major Kamlesh Pathak was on routine patrol at Sukhamali in Dessa area, when they were ambushed by the militants. The jawans returned the fire but Major Kamlesh Pathak received critical bullet injuries. Rushed to a hospital, he succumbed on the way. 

A hawaldar was injured in the encounter, the sources said. 

The militants managed to flee taking advantage of the difficult terrain. A massive search operation was launched to nab the militants, the sources said. 

There's still some pain, but the injury is healing fast," wrote Major Kamlesh Pathak. He was writing to his family in Rewa, Madhya Pradesh about the bullet wounds he sustained earlier. Yet he insisted on rejoining his unit and fell to enemy bullets. For countless families the country's recent victories have been at the expense of their dear ones' lives. The saga continues.