JeM Affiliate PAFF Claims Responsibility For Poonch Terror Attack That Killed 5 Soldiers

Jaish-e-Mohammed affiliate PAFF has claimed responsibility for the attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch that killed five army soldiers.

In a big development in the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch on Thursday, proscribed terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed affiliate PAFF (People's Anti-Fascist Front) has claimed responsibility for the attack. This comes after five jawans were charred to death as their Army vehicle caught fire after it was fired upon by terrorists on the Poonch-Jammu highway. The incident occurred when the Army vehicle was moving from Bhimber Gali to Sangiot in Poonch district. On Friday, security forces launched a massive search operation in the forests of the Bata-Doriya area of Poonch. The area has been cordoned off and drones and sniffer dogs are being used to trace terrorists, officials said, as reported by PTI.

Meanwhile, the Army has also put out the names of the five martyred jawans. They are - Hav Mandeep Singh, L/Nk Debashish Baswal, L/Nk Kulwant Singh, Sep Harkrishan Singh and Sep Sewak Singh.

In a tweet, the White Knight Corps said, "@Whiteknight_IA salutes the sacrifice of  Hav Mandeep Singh, L/Nk Debashish Baswal, L/Nk Kulwant Singh, Sep Harkrishan Singh, Sep Sewak Singh, who laid down their lives in the line of duty in #Poonch Sector on 20 Apr 23. We stand in solidarity with the bereaved families."

As per the latest information, National Investigation Agency (NIA) has been asked to probe the incident a team of the agency will reach Jammu and Kashmir Friday evening.

The Northern Command on Thursday said the vehicle was fired on by unidentified terrorists, who took advantage of heavy rains and low visibility in the area. The vehicle caught fire, due to likely use of grenades by the terrorists.

"Five personnel of the Rashtriya Rifles Unit deployed for Counter Terrorist operations have unfortunately lost their lives in the incident. Another seriously injured soldier was evacuated immediately to the Army Hospital at Rajauri and is under treatment," the Northern Command said.

Visuals showed semi-burnt bodies of the soldiers lying on the road beside the burning truck. Local people and some Army personnel were seen extinguishing the fire.

Last week, four soldiers were killed in their sleep in firing inside the military station in Bathinda. The personnel were asleep in their rooms when two masked men, in white kurta pyjamas, attacked them with rifles and sharp-edged weapons.