STATE TIMES NEWS
POONCH: One soldier was martyred and four were injured as terrorists ambushed an Indian Air Force (IAF) convoy in Poonch district on Saturday, three weeks ahead of polling in Anantnag-Rajouri Lok Sabha constituency.
Poonch is part of Anantnag-Rajouri parliamentary constituency which goes to polls in the sixth phase on May 25.
Defence Spokesperson Lt Col Suneel Bartwal said five security personnel were injured, two of them critically, when four terrorists opened fire on IAF vehicles moving towards Sanai Top in Poonch’s Surankot area in the evening.
One of the critically injured soldiers later succumbed at a military hospital during treatment, Lt Col Suneel Bartwal said.
“An Indian Air Force vehicle convoy was attacked by terrorists in the Poonch district of J&K, near Shahsitar. Cordon and search operations are underway presently in the area by local military units. “The convoy has been secured, and further investigation is under progress,” the IAF said in a post on X.
“In the ensuing gunfight with terrorists, the Air Warriors fought back by returning fire. In the process, five IAF personnel received bullet injuries, and were evacuated to the nearest military hospital for immediate medical attention. One Air Warrior succumbed to his injuries later. Further operations are on by the local security forces,” it said in another post.
The terror attack took place around 6:15 pm when the troops were returning to the air force station from Jaranwali.
The officials suspect the involvement of the same group of terrorists who ambushed troops in adjoining Bufliaz on December 21 last year, leaving four soldiers martyred and three injured.
One of the trucks in the IAF convoy bore the maximum brunt of the attack with several bullets hitting its windscreen and side. The terrorists, who were armed with AK assault rifles, are believed to have fled into the nearby forests, the officials said.
Reinforcements from the Army and police have been rushed to the area and a massive search and cordon operation has been launched to track down and neutralise the terrorists, they said, adding that there has been no contact with the fleeing terrorists so far. Police assisted by paramilitary forces had been carrying out searches in Poonch town since Friday following inputs about the movement of suspected persons. However, no one was arrested during the operation, Defence Spokesperson Lt Col Suneel Bartwal said.