Terrorists attack army vehicles in Kathua, Jammu and Kashmir, second attack in two days

Srinagar:

Four army personnel were killed and six injured when terrorists attacked a military convoy in the remote Machedi area of Kathua district in Jammu and Kashmir on Monday afternoon. The army vehicles were on a routine patrol on the Machedi-Kindli-Malhar road when they were attacked about 150 kilometres from Kathua.

The injured were taken to a hospital for treatment.

After the first attack – in which the terrorists threw a grenade and then opened fire – security forces fought back, but the terrorists fled into the nearby forest, officials said.

Reinforcements were immediately sent and a manhunt was launched to track down the terrorists.

According to official reports, there are repeated gun attacks between terrorists and security forces.

This is the second attack on the Indian Army in the Jammu region within the last 48 hours.

On Sunday, an army camp in Rajouri district was attacked. One soldier was injured.

Today’s attack came 24 hours after six terrorists were killed in two separate encounters in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kulgam district. Two soldiers, including a paratrooper, were also killed in the clashes, which began on Saturday, while another soldier was injured, police told NDTV.

The first clash took place in Modergam village when security forces comprising the CRPF (Central Reserve Police Force), the Army and the local police launched a search operation on the basis of information about the presence of terrorists. In the first exchange of fire, a paratrooper was fatally wounded.

READ | Reports of gunfire near Rajouri army camp after twin encounters

The operation escalated into a large-scale attack on a house where the terrorists had sought refuge. Late on Saturday evening, security forces destroyed the house and recovered the bodies of two terrorists.

At the same time, another heavy firefight broke out in Kulgam’s Frisal district. Drone footage showed the bodies of four terrorists after a long firefight. One soldier was killed and another injured in the fight.

VIDEOS | 4 killed terrorists hid in “bunker”, access via false cupboard

The four people shot dead in Frisal were identified as Yawar Bashir Dar, Zahid Ahmad Dar, Tawheed Ahmad Rather and Shakeel ah Wani. The two in Madergam were identified as Faisal and Adil.

Para Commando and Lance Naik Pradeep Nain were killed in action in Modergam while Havaldar Raj Kumar of 1 Rashtriya Rifles was killed in action in Frisal area.

In another incident in Rajouri district, there were reports of firing near an army camp. One soldier was injured and although initial reports suggested an attempted night terror attack on the Manjakote army camp, the army has not yet confirmed these details.

On Sunday, security sources said a Pakistan-based official of the Resistance Front, a unit of the banned Lashkar-e-Taiba, was behind the surge in terror activities in Jammu and Kashmir.

READ | Lashkar’s most wanted terrorist behind Jammu and Kashmir attacks

The NIA identified him as Saifullah Sajid Jatt of Shangamanga village in Kasur district of Pakistan’s Punjab, classified him as a “hardcore terrorist” and put a bounty of Rs 1 million on his head.

There have been a number of terrorist attacks in Jammu and Kashmir in recent months.

Last month, terrorists opened fire on a bus carrying pilgrims. The bus plunged into a ravine in Reasi district, killing nine people. Days later, two armed terrorists entered a village and opened fire. Security forces arrived and in the ensuing gunfight, a CRPF personnel was killed.

The terrorists were shot.

Last month, three terrorists were killed in a fierce exchange of fire between terrorists and security forces in Gandoh area of Doda district in Jammu and Kashmir, police said. These terrorists were allegedly involved in the recent attacks on the army and police in the Kashmir valley.

READ | 3 terrorists shot dead in shootout with security forces in Jammu and Kashmir state

A huge stockpile of weapons and ammunition, including US-made M4 carbines, was seized.

“Fight against terror in the final phase”

Last week, Prime Minister Narendra Modi told Parliament that the fight against terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir was in its final phase and that a multi-pronged strategy had been adopted to destroy the remaining network.

READ | Fight against terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir in final phase: Prime Minister Modi

“Our fight against terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir is in its final phase, the last leg. We are pursuing a multi-pronged strategy to eliminate the remaining terror network there,” Prime Minister Modi had said.

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