12-Minute Shootout After Grenade Attack — How JeM-Linked Terrorists Ambushed Jawans In J&K's Kathua

Five Indian soldiers were killed in an ambush by terrorists in Kathua district, Jammu & Kashmir. The attack was carried out by Kashmir Tigers, a Jaish-e-Mohammad-linked terrorist organisation.

Terrorists on Monday ambushed a convoy of security forces in Kathua district, Jammu & Kashmir, killing five soldiers. The Indian Army vehicles were ambushed on the Machedi-Kindli-Malhar road of Billawar, which is around about 150 km from Kathua city. The security personnel were out on a routine patrol when the attack took place. As many as five soldiers were killed in the terrorist attack, while five were injured.

This was the sixth major attack in the Jammu division and the second in Kathua district in a month. Earlier, on June 12 and 13, two terrorists were killed and a CRPF jawan was martyred in a similar encounter.

As many as 10 jawans were on the routine patrol near Badnota village in an army vehicle. The terrorists had taken up position on a hill adjacent to Malhar Road. As soon as the army's convoy arrived at the spot, the terrorists lobbed a grenade to stop them. The terrorists then opened fire with modern weapons. The shootout reportedly lasted around 12 minutes.

After carrying out the attack on Monday, the terrorists fled into the forest. A search operation has been started to look for them. More contingents of security forces have been sent to find the terrorists.

Local Guide Involved

Security agencies suspect three terrorists were involved in the attack. They also believe that there was a possibility of a local guide also being with the terrorists during the attack. Kashmir Tigers, a Jaish-e-Mohammad-linked terrorist organisation has taken responsibility for the Kathua attack. The organisation said that its cadres used M4 assault rifles, snipers, grenades, and other weapons in this attack.

Kashmir Tigers has vowed to carry out more such attacks in the coming days. It said that the Kathua attack was carried out to exact revenge for the killing of 3 terrorists in Doda on June 26. Earlier, the organisation carried out attacks in Kathua, Reasi, and Doda in the Jammu region. 

On June 9, terrorists attacked a bus carrying pilgrims from Shiv Khori temple in the Reasi district. After being fired upon by terrorists, the bus fell into a ditch. Ten people lost their lives in the attack, while 41 people were injured.