4 Jawans martyred, and 2 terrorists were killed in a Suicide Attack in J&K
Four Soldiers were martyred in a ‘Fidayeen’ attack on J&K’s Army Camp in Rajouri, and two terrorists were killed. The attack occurs just days before the ‘75th anniversary of Independence Day.’
On Thursday, four Army soldiers were martyred in a suicide attack by terrorists at an Army base camp in Jammu and Kashmir’s Rajouri district. Soon after the attack, security forces gunned down two terrorists, believed to be members of the Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and heavily armed with ‘steel core’ bullets.
Two terrorists who carried out a ‘fidayeen’ attack, according to police, were shot down after a four-hour gun battle that began at 2 a.m. and ended just before 6.30 a.m.
The attack occurred four days before India’s 75th Independence Day on Monday.
The clash erupted after the terrorists attempted to sneak into the post at Pargal near Rajouri in the darkness of the night to carry out a ‘fidayeen’ (suicide) attack, according to officials.
According to DGP Dilbag Singh, two ‘fidayeen’ (suicide attackers) believed to be from the banned JeM attempted to sneak into the camp but were neutralized.
Meanwhile, Lt Col Devender Anand, a Defense spokesman in Jammu, said that alert sentries of the Army post at Parghal in Rajouri district in the Jammu region, about 185 kilometers from Jammu city, detected suspicious persons approaching their post while taking advantage of the inclement weather and dense trees and bushes.
He claimed the sentries confronted the two terrorists who lobbed grenades while attempting to enter the post. Alert troops, however, cordoned off the area and engaged them in a firefight, he added.
After more than three years, ‘fidayeen’ have returned to the Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir. The most recent such strike occurred on February 14, 2019, at Lethpora in the Pulwama district of south Kashmir, killing 40 CRPF personnel.
According to police, there was intelligence about the presence of terrorists from the JeM in the area, and police and other security agencies were conducting operations in various parts of the district.
JeM terrorists had previously attempted but ended in failure, to carry out a ‘fidayeen’ attack in Jammu on April 22, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi was scheduled to be in town. The two terrorists, on the other hand, were killed in a chance encounter with the CISF near the Sunjawan Army camp. A paramilitary officer was also assassinated.
According to an Army spokesperson, Army Chief General Manoj Pande and all ranks “salute the supreme sacrifice” of four soldiers who died in the line of duty in Rajouri and extend their deepest condolences to the bereaved families.
Omar Condoles Deaths of Jawans
J&K Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha condemned the attack and vowed to deal harshly with terrorists and their supporters. “We shall deal with evil designs of terrorists and their backers in a befitting manner,” he tweeted.
Omar Abdullah, the National Conference leader and former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, also expressed his condolences for the soldiers’ deaths in the attack, saying, “Very sorry to hear about the death in the line of duty of three soldiers following a militant attack in Rajouri.” While condemning the attack, I offer my condolences to the victims’ families and pray for the quick recovery of the officers and jawans injured in the attack #Rajouri.”
The BJP’s Jammu and Kashmir unit has also expressed condolences for the deaths, claiming that elements in Pakistan have become agitated because all citizens in J&K were celebrating ‘Azaadi ka Amrit Mohatsav’ with the tricolor.
Valley Sees Terror Bids
In Budgam district, three Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists were killed in an encounter with security forces on Wednesday. After receiving inputs about terrorist activity at Waterhail in the Khansahib area of the district, security forces launched a cordon-and-search operation. As a result of the ultras opening fire, the search turned into an encounter.
“All the three hiding LeT # terrorist # neutralized. Bodies are being retrieved from the site, identification is yet to be ascertained. #Incriminating materials, arms & ammunition recovered. A big success for us,” ADGP, Kashmir, Vijay Kumar had tweeted. Earlier, Kumar had said three Lashkar men, including most, who wanted Lateef Rather, had been trapped at the encounter site.
Security forces had averted a major tragedy Wednesday by recovering an about 30-kg improvised explosive device (IED) in Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir just days before the 75th Independence Day, police had said. The IED was recovered after a specific input generated by police, Additional Director General of Police, Kashmir, Vijay Kumar had said.
“An IED weighing approx. 25 to 30 Kgs recovered near Tahab Crossing on Circular road in #Pulwama by Police and Security Forces. A major #tragedy has been #averted by specific input generated by Pulwama Police,” the ADGP Kashmir wrote on Twitter.
(with inputs from PTI)
