Srinagar: Five Army soldiers were killed in a terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch district on Thursday. They were travelling in a vehicle that was fired upon by terrorists between Bhimber Gali and Poonch.
“Today, at approximately 1500 hours, one Army vehicle, moving between Bhimber Gali and Poonch in the Rajauri sector, was fired on by unidentified terrorists, taking advantage of heavy rains and low visibility in the area. The vehicle caught fire, due to likely use of grenades by terrorists,” the army said in a statement.
#WATCH | Security forces secure the area where an Army truck was attacked by terrorists in #Poonch dist, J&K. 5 personnel of Rashtriya Rifles deployed in this area lost their lives
Army says terrorists may have thrown grenades at the truck which led to the vehicle catching fire. pic.twitter.com/1Wty66kqDr
— NewsMobile (@NewsMobileIndia) April 20, 2023
Five personnel of the Rashtriya Rifles Unit deployed for the counter-terrorist operations, in this area, lost their lives in the incident. “Another seriously injured soldier was evacuated immediately to the Army Hospital at Rajauri and is under treatment. Operations are in progress to locate the perpetrators,” the statement said.
Army Chief Briefs Defence Minister
The Defence Minister was briefed by Army Chief General Manoj Pande on the death of five soldiers in the terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir`s Poonch district.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said he was anguished by the tragedy. “Anguished by the tragedy in Poonch District (J&K), where the Indian Army has lost its brave soldiers after a truck caught fire. In this tragic hour, my thoughts are with the bereaved families,” he wrote on Twitter.
Anguished by the tragedy in Poonch District (J&K), where the Indian Army has lost its brave soldiers after a truck caught fire. In this tragic hour, my thoughts are with the bereaved families.
— Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) April 20, 2023
Jammu and Kashmir’s Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha also condoled the deaths of the five jawans and said, “I am deeply anguished by the loss of lives of brave Army personnel in a tragic incident at Poonch. Their rich service to the nation will never be forgotten. My thoughts are with the bereaved families.”
I am deeply anguished by the loss of lives of brave Army personnel in a tragic incident at Poonch. Their rich service to the nation will never be forgotten. My thoughts are with the bereaved families.
— Manoj Sinha (@manojsinha_) April 20, 2023
(More details are awaited)