Atleast 5 Indian Army soldiers killed in an encounter during an anti-insurgency in J.K’s poonch area

On Monday,five Indian Army soldiers were killed in an encounter that broke out during an anti-insurgency operation in the Poonch sector of Jammu and Kashmir.

Among the expired are four jawans and one Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO).

The search operation was conducted in a village close to DKG in Surankote in the early hours following intelligence inputs about the hiding of some terrorists, a defence spokesman said. The Army has cordoned off the area as three to four militants were believed to be trapped there.

The spokesperson said the ultras opened heavy fire on the operation parties resulting in critical injuries to the JCO and four other ranks. All the five soldiers succumbed to their injuries.

“The critically injured JCO and four jawans were evacuated to the nearest medical facility but succumbed to their injuries. The operation is still going on,” the Army said in its official statement.

Officials told that security forces suspected an infiltration bid in forests located near Mughal Road in Surankote subdivision.

The officials said there are reports about the presence of a group of heavily-armed terrorists in Chamrer forest after they managed to sneak from across the Line of Control (LoC).

Reinforcements were rushed to the area to plug all escape routes to ensure the terrorists are neutralised, they said.

“Teams of police and Army rushed to the spot after receiving this information and the entire area has been cordoned,” the official said, adding that the firing is going on between two sides.

Earlier, one terrorist was killed in Anantnag and another in the Bandipora districts of Kashmir.