Poonch attack: Massive hunt on to trace terrorists

Following the terror attack on troops in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch that claimed the lives of five soldiers the previous day, the Indian Army has launched a massive operation in the area’s deep forests around Bata-Doriya on Friday to hunt down a group of around six to seven terrorists who are behind this attack.

According to them, the entire region has been blocked off as drones and sniffer dogs are employed to find any terrorists who may be lurking nearby.

According to officials, Rajouri and Poonch, two border districts, have been placed on high alert, and the Line of Control is being closely monitored. Following the incident, traffic on the Bhimber Gali-Poonch road was stopped, and people were advised to travel to Poonch via Mendhar, according to them.

An NIA team will assess the scene of the terror assault, according to officials. Following a terrorist attack in Poonch, Jammu and Kashmir, a vehicle carrying five Army men caught fire, killing five of them and badly injuring another, according to the Army. The Rashtriya Rifles regiment sent the soldiers to carry out counterterrorism activities.

According to the Army, unidentified terrorists opened fire on the vehicle the soldiers were travelling in, and it caught fire as a result of the suspected use of grenades.

“Chief of the Army Staff General Manoj Pande and all ranks of Indian Army salute the supreme sacrifice of five Indian Army bravehearts, Hav Mandeep Singh, L/Nk Debashish Baswal, L/Nk Kulwant Singh, Sep Harkrishan Singh and Sep Sewak Singh who laid down their lives in the line of duty at Poonch Sector yesterday,” the Additional Directorate General of Public Information (ADGPI) said in a tweet.

Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha said he was distressed at the loss of lives of the brave soldiers. “Their rich service to the nation will never be forgotten. My thoughts are with the bereaved families,” he said in a tweet.

The incident has been criticised by political parties. The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal organised a rally on the Tawi bridge in Jammu city on Thursday night, shouting anti-Pakistani chants.