Millitantsattack army vehicle in Rajouri, 4 soldiers killed, 3 injured

Massive anti-terror Ops underway in Upper reaches of Poonch

Jammu, Dec 21: Four soldiers were killed and three others injured when terrorists attacked an army vehicle at Thanamandi area of Rajouri district of J&K on Thursday.

Officials told news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), that the terrorists targeted two army vehicles, a gypsy and a 1-ton vehicle, which were en route to fortify the cordon in the area in neighbouring Surankote, Poonch where anti-terror operation was underway following mysterious explosion near Armed Police Headquarters yesterday late night.

A Jammu-based defence spokesman said that an operation was being conducted in general area DKG (Dera Ki Gali), Thanamandi, Rajouri, since last night.

“Around 4.00 pm, two army vehicles carrying troops were moving to the operational site, which was fired upon by the terrorist. The fire was immediately retaliated upon by their own troops.  Three soldiers lost their lives in the operation while three suffered injuries and evacuated to nearest medical care,” the spokesperson said, adding, “Operation are in progress. Further details are being ascertained”. However, a senior army official told KNO that four soldiers were killed in the attack.

The attack took place in the same area where five soldiers of the Army were killed in a deadly attack in the Dara Ki Gali (DKG) area of Surankote in Poonch. The operation lasted for more than a month in which nine army officials were killed in action while one terrorist was killed after months of attack.

Earlier, joint security forces launched a massive anti-terror operation in the upper reaches of Poonch district after the movement of a suspected group of terrorists in the area. Senior officials of Jammu Kashmir Police including SSP Poonch Vinay Sharma and Army officials rushed to the spot.

A senior Army official said that a group of terrorists had been spotted in the Topa Pir area of Poonch district after which the area had been cordoned off and intensified searches were underway.

Pertinent to mention that Pakistan has been eyeing the Poonch district for fuelling terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir and over a dozen incidents of narcotics smuggling have been foiled which led to the recovery of 87 kilograms of heroin, the international market worth of which is more than Rs 400 crores.

‘Yesterday Explosion’

Yesterday around 9.30 pm a low intensity explosion took place in the Armed Police company base and a few vehicles parked in the premises were damaged in the explosion.

Official sources said four cars suffered minor to moderate damages with panes of these vehicles damaged.

Official sources further said that the nature of this explosion is yet not clear but official quarters have suspicion of this to be a grenade explosion.

Earlier, on November 15 , a suspected grenade explosion took place in the premises of a temple in Surankote town after which splinter marks were seen in the temple walls, stairs—(KNO)