Poonch: The militant attack in Poonch has claimed five lives, with two additional armed forces personnel succumbing to injuries on Thursday night, while three others sustained injuries, The Wire reported.
Four of the deceased army personnel have been identified as Naik Birendra Singh, Naik Karan Kumar, Rifleman Chandan Kumar, and Rifleman Gautam Kumar. The injured personnel, identified as Sundeep Kumar, Shyam Sundar Das, and Todmal Dnyaneshwar Bhaskarrav, face critical conditions, with one possibly succumbing to injuries.
The attack occurred around 3:45 pm on Thursday during an ongoing anti-militancy operation in Poonch district, which commenced on Wednesday evening, December 20. The targeted army gypsy, with shattered glass and deflated tires purportedly from gunshots, was captured in a video verified by The Wire at the attack site.
Reportedly, the assailants also managed to seize rifles from the targeted armed forces personnel before fleeing the scene, the report said.
“After the attack, additional reinforcements were dispatched to aid the troopers in searching for the attackers. Based on hard intelligence, a joint operation was launched in the general area of DKG last night. Contact has been established this evening, and an encounter is in progres,” stated a defense spokesperson.
The Pir Panjal region, encompassing Rajouri district along with Poonch and parts of Reasi districts, has seen a surge in militancy in recent years, resulting in several Indian Army casualties.
This incident follows a deadly attack less than a month ago in the Baajimal area of the adjoining Rajouri district, where two army officers and an equal number of soldiers lost their lives.
