Web Desk, 22-12-2023 : In a tragic incident unfolding in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch district, the death toll from Thursday’s ambush on two Army vehicles has risen to five, with two soldiers injured. The attack occurred within the context of an ongoing anti-terrorist operation in the Dera Ki Gali (DKG) area of Thanamandi.
The fallen soldiers have been identified as Naik Birendra Singh, Naik Driver Karan Kumar, Rifleman Chandan Kumar, and Rifleman Gautam Kumar, while the identity of the fifth martyr remains to be ascertained. Two injured soldiers were swiftly evacuated to hospitals, with some airlifted to the Command Hospital Udhampur for treatment. Tragically, the bodies of the slain soldiers bore signs of mutilation, highlighting the grim challenges faced by security forces in the region.
The ambush transpired around 3:45 pm on Thursday when two Army vehicles en route to a cordon-and-search operation were targeted by terrorists in DKG. The Army vehicles were ferrying soldiers to the operation site, and an intense exchange of fire ensued. The terrorists, estimated between three and four, had strategically positioned themselves atop a hill, ambushing the Army vehicles as they navigated a blind curve and challenging terrain.
The modus operandi of the attack bore a resemblance to the Bhatta Durrian attack earlier in the year, with terrorists targeting tires and drivers before firing on troops. Despite the immediate retaliation from alert troops, the attackers managed to escape the scene. The region’s minimal civilian presence delayed additional security force support to the encounter site.
Efforts to capture the terrorists continued into the night, with a joint operation launched by the Army, paramilitary forces, and police. The closed Dera Ki Gali road and the potential engagement of soldiers in hand-to-hand combat underscore the intensity of the confrontation.
The People’s Anti-Fascist Front (PAFF), an offshoot of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), claimed responsibility for the ambush. This marks the fourth such loss in the twin border districts of Rajouri and Poonch this year, resulting in the sacrifice of 20 soldiers, including two Army Captains.
Former Chief Ministers Ghulam Nabi Azad and Mehbooba Mufti strongly condemned the attack, urging swift government action to ensure the safety of all citizens. The incident adds to a series of major terror attacks in the twin border districts of Rajouri and Poonch, highlighting the continued challenges in the region.