In a tragic incident, five Army personnel lost their lives and six others were injured when terrorists attacked a military convoy in the remote Machedi area of Jammu and Kashmir’s Kathua district on Monday. The convoy was on a routine patrol along the Machedi-Kindli-Malhar road, approximately 150 km from Kathua, when the assault occurred. The injured soldiers have been transported to a hospital for treatment.
The attack began with terrorists hurling a grenade at the convoy, followed by an onslaught of gunfire. Security forces responded, but the assailants managed to escape into the nearby forest. Reinforcements were swiftly deployed, and a search operation was launched to locate the terrorists. Officials reported ongoing intermittent firing between the terrorists and security forces.
This attack marks the second on the Indian Army in the Jammu region within 48 hours. On Sunday, an Army camp in Rajouri district was attacked, resulting in one soldier being injured. Additionally, today’s assault follows a significant encounter in J&K’s Kulgam district, where six terrorists were killed, and two soldiers, including a para-trooper, lost their lives.
In the Kulgam encounter, security forces, including the CRPF, the Army, and local police, launched a search operation in Modergam village based on intelligence reports of terrorist presence. The initial exchange of gunfire resulted in the death of a para-trooper. The operation escalated into a full-scale assault, leading to the destruction of a target house and the recovery of two terrorist bodies.
Simultaneously, another intense gun battle took place in Kulgam’s Frisal area. Drone footage revealed the bodies of four terrorists after a prolonged firefight. One soldier was killed and another injured. The slain terrorists were identified as Yawar Bashir Dar, Zahid Ahmad Dar, Tawheed Ahmad Rather, and Shakeel Ahmad Wani, while the Modergam terrorists were identified as Faisal and Adil. Para Commando Lance Naik Pradeep Nain and Havaldar Raj Kumar of 1 Rashtriya Rifles were the soldiers killed in action.
In a separate incident in Rajouri district, there were reports of firing near an Army camp, resulting in one soldier being injured. Initial reports suggested an attempted terror attack on the Manjakote army camp, though official confirmation is awaited.
Security agency sources revealed that a Pakistan-based operative of the Resistance Front, a unit of the banned Lashkar-e-Taiba, was behind the recent surge in terror activities in J&K. Identified as Saifullah Sajid Jatt from Shangamanga village in Pakistan’s Punjab, the NIA has placed a ₹ 10 lakh bounty on his head.
Jammu and Kashmir has witnessed a series of terror attacks in recent months. Last month, terrorists fired at a bus carrying pilgrims, causing it to plunge into a gorge in Reasi district, killing nine people. Days later, armed terrorists attacked a village, leading to a gunfight with security forces that resulted in the death of a CRPF personnel and the terrorists.
Furthermore, three terrorists were killed in a gunfight in the Gandoh area of Doda district. These terrorists were believed to be involved in recent attacks on the Army and police in the Kashmir Valley. A significant cache of arms and ammunition, including US-made M4 carbines, was recovered.
