Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh met with Army personnel in Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday following the death of five soldiers in an encounter with terrorists in Rajouri district on Friday. The Defence Minister has gone to review the security situation in the Jammu sector. He will also pay his last respects to the deceased. On Friday, five Army officials were killed when militants cornered by the troops triggered an explosion in a densely forested area of Jammu and Kashmir's Rajouri district. Another officer got injured in the explosion which was caused by an Improvised Explosive Device (IED).
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh was seen interacting with the soldiers after he arrived in Rajouri earlier today.
Army Chief Gen Manoj Pande was also visiting Jammu along with the Defence Minister to review the security situation. Northern Army Commander Lt Gen Upendra Dwivedi is already on ground zero, reported ANI citing defence sources.
Rajouri Encounter
Five soldiers died in a face-off with terrorists in the Kandi area of Rajouri in Jammu and Kashmir. The terrorists triggered an explosive device in retaliation to intelligence-based operations to flush out a group of terrorists on Friday where the Army team suffered five fatal casualties and another soldier suffered injuries. Two soldiers were killed earlier while three out of four soldiers who were injured succumbed to their injuries later, the Army stated in a statement.
Meanwhile, two encounters are underway in Jammu and Kashmir's Baramulla and Rajouri where the security forces have neutralised one terrorist. The Kashmir Zone Police said that the killed terrorist has been identified as Abid Wani, a resident of Yarhol Babapora Kulgam, linked with the proscribed terror outfit LeT. Police added that Incriminating materials, including one AK 47 rifle, have also been recovered.