LG, Omar, Azad, others condemn terror act
STATE TIMES NEWS
Jammu: Five Army personnel were martyred and another was seriously injured on Thursday after their vehicle caught fire following a terrorist attack in Poonch, officials said.
The deceased Army soldiers were from a Rashtriya Rifles unit deployed for counterterror operations, the Army said in a statement.
Army Chief Gen Manoj Pande has briefed Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on the incident.
The Army said the vehicle the soldiers were travelling in came under fire from unidentified terrorists and it caught fire because of likely use of grenades.
“Today, at approximately 1500 hours, one Army vehicle, moving between Bhimber Gali and Poonch in the Rajauri sector was fired on by unidentified terrorists, taking advantage of heavy rains and low visibility in the area,” the Army said.
“The vehicle caught fire, due to likely use of grenades by terrorists,” it said.
Five personnel of the Rashtriya Rifles Unit deployed for counterterrorist operations, in this area have unfortunately lost their lives in the incident, it said.
The Army said another soldier was seriously injured and he was evacuated immediately to the Army hospital at Rajauri.
The Army said operations are underway to catch the perpetrators.
In an initial statement, the Army said the five personnel were martyred after their vehicle caught fire, adding further details are being ascertained.
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha condoled the death of five Army jawans.
“I am deeply anguished by the loss of lives of brave Army personnel in a tragic incident at Poonch. Their rich service to the nation will never be forgotten. My thoughts are with the bereaved families,” the J&K L-G said.
Former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah condemned the attack. He tweeted, “Terrible news of a terror attack in Poonch that claimed the lives of 5 Army jawans in the line of duty. I unequivocally condemn this heinous attack and send my condolences to the loved ones of those killed today. May the souls of the departed rest in peace.”
Another former Chief Minister and Chairman Democratic Progressive Azad Party (DPAP) Ghulam Nabi Azad also expressed condolences to the bereaved families of four Army personnel who lost their lives after ‘lightning struck their vehicle’ bursting it into flames in Poonch district of J&K.
“I am deeply pained to learn about the loss of lives of our brave Army personnel in a tragic road accident in Poonch. My deepest condolences to the bereaved families. Their selfless service to the nation will always be remembered. I pray for early recovery of the injured,” Azad said.
The Congress has strongly condemned the terror attack on army vehicle in Bhadurian, Mendhar and termed it as a act of grave provocation by Pakistan and its sponsored terrorists.
In a strongly worded reaction, Congress said that the attack is a cowardly act which needs to be condemned in the strongest possible words. The party is shocked over the loss of precious lives and salutes the martyrs and convey deepest sympathies to their families besides praying for the recovery of the injured.
JKPCC Chief Spokesperson Ravinder Sharma termed it as an act of grave provocation by Pakistan and it reminds of the martyrdom of forty jawans in Pulwama attack in Feb 2019.
He said that the threat of terrorism in the this border belt has increased in the recent past, as some targetted civilian killings have also taken place in the border region in recent past, after long time and a serious incident had been carried out in same area in Oct, 2021, for which army was still carrying out an operation.
Pakistan needs to be given the befitting response and such provocations are intolerable. The party stands in solidarity with our armed forces and security forces to thwart the nefarious designs of Pakistan.
Sharma said that GOI must decide about the participation of Pakistan’s foreign minister in the forthcoming SCO meet in Goa, next month, in view of the continued terrorist attacks on our jawans and civilians.