Four soldiers of the Indian Army lost their lives while three others sustained injuries after terrorists ambushed army vehicles in Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday. These vehicles were carrying operational teams in a dense forest area on Thanamandi Surankote road, connecting twin districts Rajouri and Poonch via Dehra Ki Gali (DKG) tourist point.
The army personnel who lost their lives in this attack have been identified as Birendar Singh, Chandan Kumar, Karan Kumar and Gautam Kumar.
Terrorists attacked the army vehicle when the army was carrying out an operation in the area, following the reports of suspicious movement of terrorists.The incident took place at around 3.30 pm when army vehicles, carrying operational teams, were on way towards Bufliyaz from Dehra Ki Gali.
“These vehicles were plying from DKG to Bufliyaz side on Thanamandi-Surankote road that also connects to Mughal Road,” officials said.The incident site is around three kilometers away from Bufliyaz, which is the take off point of Mughal Road. The vehicles carrying operational teams were on way to Bufliyaz, terrorists fired indiscriminately on them at Danar Sawaniya Morh area which is surrounded by dense forest everywhere.
“Heavy exchange of fire took place at the site of the incident but terrorists managed to escape in the nearby forest,” official sources added.
Four army personnel have lost their lives while three others got injured. They all have been shifted to the local army hospital and are under treatment there. Bodies of all four personnel were retrieved from the site of the incident and shifted to the nearest army camp.
Army has made a massive deployment in the area, which has been cordoned to track the movement of terrorists, who are believed to be three in number.
Indian Army’s official statement, said, “An operation was being conducted in the general area of Dehra Ki Gali (DKG) since the night of December 20.At approximately 3.45 pm on December 21, two army vehicles carrying troops were moving to the operational site which were fired upon by terrorists. The fire was immediately retaliated upon by our own troops.”
This is the second major incident in areas of Rajouri, Poonch during the last one month. Earlier on November 23 and 24, an encounter took place at Baaji Maal, Barevi in Kalakote area. Five army personnel including two officers lost their lives while two terrorists were killed in that incident.
