Five soldiers killed in J&K terror attack, Army says firing, likely use of grenades

Five soldiers killed in J&K terror attack, Army says firing, likely use of grenades

Five Military soldiers were eliminated Thursday afternoon in Poonch area of J&K when their lorry was fired upon by "unknown terrorists" that "benefited from hefty rain as well as low visibility in the location", the Udhampur-based Northern Command claimed in a statement.

" The car caught fire, due to likely use grenades by terrorists," it said. The case took place around 3 pm when the Military car was relocating in between Bhimber Gali and also Poonch in the Rajouri sector.

" 5 workers of the Rashtriya Rifles unit released for Counter Terrorist operations, in this area, have sadly lost their lives in the occurrence," the Northern Command stated.

" One more seriously injured soldier was left immediately to the Military Healthcare Facility at Rajouri and is under treatment," it stated. "Procedures are in progression to situate the perpetrators. More details are being established."

While this update was issued at 6.45 pm, the Army, in an earlier communication, had actually said the vehicle "caught fire", causing the casualties.

At 6.33 pm, Support Priest Rajnath Singh, in a Twitter post, said: "Anguished by the disaster in Poonch District (J&K), where the Indian Military has actually lost its take on soldiers after a vehicle ignited. In this awful hour, my ideas are with the bereaved households."

The dead have been identified as Hav Mandeep Singh, L/Nk Kulwant Singh, Sep Harkrishan Singh as well as Sep Sewak Singh from Punjab, and L/Nk Debashish Baswal from Odisha.

According to military sources, the automobile belonged to a small convoy of two-three cars, and also the assault was likely a "planned ambush".

" The terrorists had actually recognized the location beforehand as well as intended an ambush. They fired at among the cars, which struck the diesel container, and it caught fire," an official claimed.

It is not immediately clear exactly how much the various other automobiles were from the one that was struck.

The assault comes amidst discussions between the military management as well as the federal government on a proposal to withdraw Rashtriya Rifles soldiers from the Valley hinterland as well as let the CRPF fill in the void.

With an RR field transferring to eastern Ladakh previously, there has already been a partial thinning of soldiers in this field, resources stated.

In January, Army chief General Manoj Pande had said that while the counter-insurgency grid in the Valley is strong, there have actually been instances of seepage efforts in areas south of the Pir Panjal range. Rajouri sector, where the assault happened Thursday, is southern of the Pir Panjal array.

He said that the ceasefire agreement got to in between India and Pakistan in February 2021 is holding well along the Line of Control and western borders, also as cross-border assistance to terrorism as well as terror framework remains to continue to be a concern.

Thursday's strike comes a week after Union Residence Minister Amit Shah, on April 13, reviewed the protection circumstance in J&K. He additionally reviewed the preparations of the G20 satisfy, scheduled to be held in Srinagar in Might, and asked all agencies to work in a coordinated manner for the event's success.

Right after the strike, security forces cordoned off the area and also quit movement of car web traffic on the Bhimber Gali-Surankote road. A substantial search procedure has actually been released to track down the terrorists, officials stated, adding that people have actually been suggested by the management to take the Mendhar course to travel to Poonch.

J&K's Lt Governor Manoj Sinha revealed "misery over the loss of lives of brave Army workers in a heartbreaking event in Poonch". "Their abundant services to the nation will never ever be forgotten," he tweeted.

Congress head of state Mallikarjun Kharge claimed the country is joined against terrorism. "Strongly condemn the horror attack on a Military car in Poonch District, Jammu & Kashmir. Our deepest acknowledgements to the family members of 5 Rashtriya Rifle bravehearts. Our prayers for the injured workers. We are united against terrorism," he claimed in a Twitter post.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi too said: "Information of the martyrdom of 5 of our soldiers in the horror strike in Poonch is very depressing. I pay my simple tributes to the heroes and share my inmost condolences to their households."

The strike came 18 months after terrorists eliminated nine soldiers in the Bhata Durian and Chamrel woodlands in October 2021.

Meanwhile, sources claimed that the border districts of Poonch and Rajouri, after a spell of peace, have begun reporting activity of terrorists.