Officer among four soldiers killed.

Amid repeated militant attacks in the neighbouring Doda district of Jammu and Kashmir, the Himachal Pradesh Transport Corporation (HPTC) on Tuesday temporarily suspended bus services on the Chamba-Doda route with the safety of passengers in mind. The bus service started on July 2.

A security alert has also been sounded by the Himachal Pradesh Police and personnel of the Indian Reserve Battalion (IRB) deployed at a dozen checkpoints throughout the Doda-Chamba border have been instructed to remain on alert.

“Keeping in view the recent militant activities, we have alerted our police personnel and IRB personnel in district Chamba, which shares around a 216 km border with Doda district of Jammu and Kashmir. Many precautions are being taken. We are also in touch with central agencies, the Indian Army, and the Jammu and Kashmir Police as well,” said Abhishek Trivedi, Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order), Himachal Pradesh, while speaking to The Indian Express.

When asked if there is any specific input about the movement of suspected militants in Himachal Pradesh, Trivedi refused to comment. He said, “We have received inputs from various sources but can’t disclose them.”

Sources added, “Shepherds, who move between Chamba and Doda with their livestock, have been asked to remain alert. Local residents too have been asked to remain vigilant.”