Jammu: Kashmir Tigers, a shadow outfit of the Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM), has claimed responsibility for the attack on the Indian Army vehicle in the Machedi area of Jammu and Kashmir’s Kathua district.
Five army personnel including a Junior Commanding Officer (JCO) were killed during the gunfight with terrorists.
While initial reports said four army personnel including the JCO lost their lives while six suffered injuries, two of them critically during the fierce gunfight in Machhedi area, later another jawan breathed his last in hospital.
“All six injured jawans of Kathua gunfight were rushed to the Sub District Hospital, Billawar out of which one succumbed during the treatment taking the toll to five,” official sources said.
Police sources said that the terrorists this afternoon attacked the Army vehicle near Badnota village under Lohai block.
“The Army troops fired at them and the encounter triggered,” said police sources.
Officials informed that terrorists hurled a grenade and opened fire targeting Army vehicles that were on a routine patrol on the Machedi-Kindli-Malhar road near Badnota village in Lohai Malhar, Billawar, around 150 km from district headquarters Kathua.
"The Army troops effectively retaliated to the firing and in the exchange of bullets, the jawans including one JCO were killed," they added.
The five injured are undergoing treatment.
Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh posted on X, "My heart goes out to the brave heart soldiers martyred in the ongoing #Kathua encounter. I am in constant touch with the authorities. Joint police & para military operation is on. My sincere appeal to the civilian population is not to panic. We have full faith in our armed forces and we are always indebted to them."
Democratic Progressive Azad Party (DPAP) Chairman, Ghulam Nabi Azad posted on X, "Deeply saddened and strongly condemn the ambush on an army vehicle by terrorists in Kathua, resulting in the tragic loss of four jawans and injuries to six others. The rise in terrorism in Jammu province is deeply concerning. Our thoughts and prayers are with the injured and their families. The government must act decisively to tackle terrorism and ensure public safety!"
The sources said an army truck in which 10 soldiers were travelling was attacked at an isolated location.
The terrorists fled into the nearby forest and took advantage of the dense vegetation, said an officer, adding, “An intermittent exchange of firing occurred between the terrorists and security forces for a few minutes, but it is believed the terrorists are hiding in the forest as no fresh firing is reported.”
Reinforcements have been rushed to the area to trace down and neutralise the terrorists, an official said, adding a total of 10 troopers were injured and four of them later succumbed to their injuries.
This is the second major terror attack in Kathua. On June 11 and 12, two suspected terrorists were killed in an encounter with the security forces in Kathua and a large quantity of arms and ammunition, dry fruits, medicines, batteries, walkie talkie sets were recovered from them.
On June 9 there was an attack on a pilgrims' bus in Reasi, when it was returning from Shiv Khori cave temple in which nine people were killed and 33 injured.
