Jammu-Kashmir: IAF Soldier Dead, 4 More Injured As Terrorists Attack Security Vehicles In Poonch As Search Ops Launched

Poonch Terrorist Attack: The incident occurred in Sanai village of Surankote, prompting the dispatch of reinforcements from the Army and police to the area to assess the situation.

Jammu-Kashmir: The terrorist attack on the security forces' bus took place near Shashidhar in the evening as the vehicles were en route to Sanai Top in the Surankote area of the district. ( Image Source :Special Arrangement )

Poonch Terrorist Attack: Terrorists launched an attack on two vehicles, one of which belonged to the Indian Air Force (IAF), in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district on Saturday, resulting in injuries to five security personnel, as confirmed by officials. The assault occurred near Shashidhar in the evening as the vehicles were en route to Sanai Top in the Surankote area of the district. According to officials, one of the injured IAF personnel died while the condition of one soldier is reported to be critical.

"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," IAF confirmed on X.

Update

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…

— Indian Air Force (@IAF_MCC) May 4, 2024

Following the attack, reinforcements from both the army and police have been swiftly deployed to the area. A large-scale search and cordon operation have been initiated to locate and neutralise the terrorists responsible for the assault, news agency PTI reported.

News agency ANI reported officials as informing that the injured troops were airlifted to Command Hospital, Udhampur for further treatment.

#WATCH | J&K: Five Indian Air Force personnel injured in the attack on Indian Air Force vehicle convoy in Pooch.

Visuals of a Police vehicle entering the Indian Army base near Jarra Wali Gali (JWG) Poonch. pic.twitter.com/Qoktbwmg8j

— ANI (@ANI) May 4, 2024

Confirming the attack on the convoy earlier, IAF posted, "An Indian Air Force vehicle convoy was attacked by militants 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."

An Indian Air Force vehicle convoy was attacked by militants 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.

— Indian Air Force (@IAF_MCC) May 4, 2024

Former Jammu and Kashmir deputy chief minister and BJP leader Kavinder Gupta alleged a Pakistan angle amid the ongoing Lok Sabha elections 2024 as he remarked, "Information has been received that in Pooch, Indian Air Force vehicle convoy was attacked by terrorists and the area has been cordoned off. During election time, it is natural that people sent by Pakistan would try to infiltrate and spoil the atmosphere. Security forces are on alert...those who are behind this attack need to be caught soon and neutralised..."

#WATCH | J&K: On Terrorist attack on Indian Air Force vehicle convoy in Pooch, Former Jammu & Kashmir Deputy CM & BJP leader Kavinder Gupta says, " Information has been received that in Pooch, Indian Air Force vehicle convoy was attacked by terrorists and the area has been… pic.twitter.com/ACXlglf2sW

— ANI (@ANI) May 4, 2024

The Jammu and Kashmir Congress condemned the repeated terror attacks targeting security personnel with Pradesh Congress Committee president Vikar Rasool Wani saying, "We condemn the terror attack on the IAF personnel... We express our grave concern over the escalated attacks by terrorists in various parts of Jammu and Kashmir, especially in Rajouri-Poonch belt, resulting in loss of several precious lives of our jawans and officers", as quoted by PTI.

Poonch Terrorist Attack: Officials Suspect Involvement Of Terrorists Responsible For Bufliaz Ambush

According to PTI, officials suspect the involvement of the same group of terrorists responsible for an ambush on troops in adjoining Bufliaz on December 21 last year, which resulted in the deaths of four soldiers and injuries to three others.

The Army truck bore the brunt of the terrorists' gunfire, as they were armed with AK assault rifles and are believed to have fled into the nearby forests, as per officials' accounts, reported PTI.

Following the attack, reinforcements from the Army and police swiftly mobilised to the area, launching a large-scale search and cordon operation to locate and neutralize the terrorists, officials stated. Police, supported by paramilitary forces, conducted searches in Poonch town since Friday based on intelligence about the movement of suspected individuals. However, no arrests were made during the operation.

The incident in the Pir Panjal region comes after the recent killings of government employee Mohd Razaq, brother of an Army personnel, in Rajouri's Shahdra area on April 22, and village defence guard Mohd Sharief in Basantgarh area of Udhampur on April 28.

Police have released pictures of two Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists, including suspected Pakistani national Abu Hamza, involved in Razaq's murder, and announced a cash reward of Rs 10 lakh for information leading to his capture.

The Bufliaz ambush in December last year occurred shortly after a significant gunfight in the Dharmsal belt of Bajimaal forest in Rajouri, resulting in the deaths of five Army personnel, including two captains, a month earlier. During the two-day long gunfight, two terrorists, including a prominent LeT commander known as Quari, were also killed.

Quari was identified as the mastermind behind several attacks, including the killing of 10 civilians and five Army personnel in the district. The area between Dhera Ki Gali and Bufliaz, situated on the boundary of Rajouri and Poonch, is heavily forested and connects to Chamrer forest and Bhata Dhurian forest.

This region has been the site of numerous attacks, including the ambush on an Army vehicle on April 20 last year, which resulted in the deaths of five soldiers. Additionally, in May last year, five Army personnel were killed, and a major-rank officer was injured during an anti-terrorist operation in Chamrer forest. 

A foreign terrorist was also killed in the operation. In 2022, five Army personnel were killed when terrorists carried out a suicide attack on their camp at Pargal in Darhal area of Rajouri district. Both the terrorists involved in the attack were eliminated.    

In 2021, nine soldiers were killed in two separate attacks by terrorists in the forested region. While five Army personnel, including a junior commissioned officer (JCO), were killed on October 11 in Chamrer, a JCO and three soldiers were killed on October 14 in a nearby forest