Four soldiers killed, six injured in Kathua terrorist attack
- In Reports
- 10:43 PM, Jul 08, 2024
- Myind Staff
In a tragic incident on Monday afternoon, four soldiers lost their lives and six others were injured after terrorists ambushed a military convoy in the remote Machedi area of Jammu and Kashmir's Kathua district. The attack occurred approximately 150 kilometers from Kathua, while the Army vehicles were on a routine patrol along the Machedi-Kindli-Malhar Road.
According to officials, the terrorists initiated the assault by throwing a grenade and then opened fire on the convoy. The security forces immediately retaliated, but the assailants fled into the nearby forest. The injured soldiers were promptly transported to a hospital for treatment. After the initial attack, reinforcements were dispatched to the area, and a search operation was launched to track down the terrorists. Officials reported that intermittent firing continued between the terrorists and the security forces.
This attack marks the second assault on the Indian Army in the Jammu region within the past 48 hours. On Sunday, an Army camp in Rajouri district was attacked, resulting in one soldier being injured. The latest incident comes just 24 hours after six terrorists were killed in two separate encounters in J&K's Kulgam district. These encounters, which began on Saturday, also claimed the lives of two soldiers, including a para-trooper, and left another soldier injured, according to police sources.
The first encounter occurred in Modergam village, where security forces, including the CRPF, Army, and local police, launched a search operation based on intelligence about terrorist presence. A para-trooper was fatally wounded in the initial exchange of gunfire. The operation escalated into a full-scale assault on a house where the terrorists had taken shelter. By late Saturday night, security forces had destroyed the house and recovered the bodies of two terrorists.
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 in this encounter. The terrorists killed in Frisal were identified as Yawar Bashir Dar, Zahid Ahmad Dar, Tawheed Ahmad Rather, and Shakeel Ahmad Wani. The two terrorists in Modergam were identified as Faisal and Adil.
Para Commando and Lance Naik Pradeep Nain were killed in action in Modergam, while Havaldar Raj Kumar of 1 Rashtriya Rifles was killed in Frisal.
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 overnight terror attack on the Manjakote army camp, although the army has yet to confirm these details. Security agency sources indicated that Saifullah Sajid Jatt, a Pakistan-based operative of the Resistance Front, a unit of the banned Lashkar-e-Taiba, was behind the recent spike in terror activities in J&K. The NIA has identified him as a "hardcore terrorist" and placed a bounty of ₹10 lakh on his head.
J&K has witnessed a surge in terror attacks in recent months. Last month, terrorists opened fire on a bus carrying pilgrims, causing the bus to fall into a gorge in Reasi district, killing nine people. Shortly after, two armed terrorists attacked a village, leading to a gunfight in which a CRPF personnel was killed, and the terrorists were shot dead.
In another incident, three terrorists were killed in a fierce gunfight with security forces 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.
Last week in the Parliament, Prime Minister Modi stated that the fight against terrorism in J&K is in its final stages, highlighting a multi-pronged strategy to dismantle the remaining terrorist network.
Image source: ANI
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