Army Lost 31 Soldiers In J&K This Year, More Lives Lost In Jammu Than Kashmir

Out of the 31 soldiers, 28 soldiers were killed, and nine sustained injuries in nine encounters in Jammu and Kashmir.

This year, J&K witnessed several encounters, but the Army suffered casualties in nine of them.

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New Delhi: At least 31 soldiers of the Indian army have been killed in various encounters with militants in Jammu and Kashmir in the current year, including three jawans who died while on a patrolling mission. 

Out of these, 28 soldiers were killed, and nine sustained injuries in nine encounters in Jammu and Kashmir, according to different FIRs filed in the current year.

This year, J&K witnessed several encounters, but the Army suffered casualties in nine of them, six of which raged in Jammu Division and three in Kashmir Valley.

According to the FIRs, at least 21 soldiers were killed in Jammu Division, mainly in Poonch and Rajouri districts, while 7 soldiers lost their lives during three operations in Kashmir Valley.

The Army recorded no casualties in the months of March, June, July, and October. In February, one soldier lost his life, followed by five casualties each in April, May, November, and December. September saw four soldiers losing their lives, while August had three casualties.

Notably, in January of this year, a Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO) and two soldiers tragically lost their lives when they slipped into a deep gorge during a routine operation in the forward area of the Machil sector in North Kashmir’s Kupwara district.

As per police records, in February, a soldier from Himachal Pradesh was killed in an encounter at Potgampora Awantipora in Pulwama district.

In April, 5 army personnel were killed and a soldier suffered injuries in a militant attack at the Bhatadhurian area of Mendhar Sub Division in Poonch district. The non-local militants reportedly attacked an army vehicle with grenades using UBGL there.

In May, 5 soldiers were killed after militants triggered a blast during a cordon and search operation in the Kandi forest area of Rajouri district of Jammu region.

In August, 3 soldiers were killed in an encounter in the Halan forest area of South Kashmir’s Kulgam district.

A soldier and an army dog were killed in September in an encounter in Narla village of Rajouri. At least 3 Army personnel including a Colonel and a Major were killed in South Kashmir’s Gadole Kokarnag encounter.

In November, 5 soldiers including two captains were killed in the 30-hour-long encounter at Baji Maal forest area of Kalakote Rajouri.

In a recent attack in December, 5 army personnel lost their lives while two others sustained injuries after militants ambushed army vehicles, carrying operational teams, in the dense forest area on Thanamandi Surankote road in Poonch.