Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Dec 21: In yet another major loss for the Army, fourth this year in the twin border districts of Rajouri and Poonch, five Army soldiers were martyred and two others were injured in an encounter with the terrorists at Dhatyar Morh between Dera Ki Gali and Bufliaz falling under the jurisdiction of Surankote police station in Poonch district this afternoon.
The terrorists, whose number is believed to be between three to four, had taken positions atop the hill from where they targeted the Army vehicles which had to slow down their speed at the blind curve and bumpy road. The terrorists seemed to have carried out recce of the area and chose the spot where there were pits and the spot was surrounded by mountains.
A civilian dumper was also caught in the firing.
Also, there was virtually less or no civilian population in the area and it would have taken some time for additional help of security forces to reach the site of encounter. Pictures of the spot showed a couple of bodies of soldiers in mutilated condition. Disturbing images and videos also showed blood on the street, broken helmets of soldiers and shattered windscreens of the two Army vehicles including a Gypsy and a truck.
The officials have not ruled out the possibility of the soldiers engaging in hand-to-hand combat with terrorists during the intense confrontation.
Modus operandi of the attack was almost similar to Bhatta Durrian attack at Mendhar in the same district on April 20 this year in which five bravehearts lost their lives while the terrorists escaped.
Army, paramilitary forces and police have launched massive crackdown in the area to hunt down the terrorists involved in the gun battle, whose number was believed to be between three and four. Some of the weapons of the fallen soldiers were reportedly missing and they might have been taken with them by the fleeing terrorists though there was no official confirmation to this effect.
This was fourth major encounter/ambush in Rajouri and Poonch districts this year in which 20 soldiers have sacrificed their lives. They included two Captains.
In all four attacks, five soldiers each have been martyred.
Officials said the troops were conducting search operations in Dera Ki Gali area since last night.
As the operation continues, authorities are diligently working to gather more information and bring an end to the threat posed by terrorists in the region.
The stretch between Dera Ki Gali and Bufliaz on the boundary of Rajouri and Poonch districts is densely forested and leads to Chamrer forest and then Bhata Dhurian forest, where five soldiers were killed in an ambush on an Army vehicle on April 20 this year.
“At about 3.45 pm today, two Army vehicles carrying troops and moving towards operational site, were fired upon by the terrorists. Army immediately retaliated the fire. In the ongoing operation, three soldiers were martyred and three others were injured,” the officials said, adding drivers of both the vehicles including one Gypsy and a truck, were among the dead.
Reports, however, confirmed five fatal casualties of the Army and two injuries.
A civilian dumper was also caught in the firing but none was reported to have been injured in the vehicle.
Four fallen soldiers have been identified as Naik Birendra Singh, Naik Driver Karan Kumar, Rifleman Chandan Kumar and Rifleman Gautam Kumar. Identity of fifth martyr could not be asscertained immediately.
Dead and injured were immediately shifted from the spot and taken to hospital. Injured have been airlifted to the Command Hospital Udhampur.
Dera Ki Gali road has been closed for traffic to facilitate searches.
Though the Army, paramilitary forces and police have cordoned off the area, the reports indicated that the terrorists managed to escape from the spot initially but are being actively pursued to hunt them down. More troops have also been rushed to the spot.
Like April 20 attack at Bhatta Durrian, Mendhar in Poonch district, the terrorists first targeted tyres and drivers of both the vehicles and then rained bullets on the troops to cause maximum casualties. However, alert troops retaliated after which the terrorists fled away from the spot.
The terrorists are believed to be between three to four in numbers and were foreigners. Without local support, the attack wouldn’t have been possible especially identification of route of the Army vehicles, timing of troop movement, return to the forests or hideouts after the encounter and taking food etc. Such an angle is being investigated, the officials said.
Principal District and Sessions Judge V K Phull and three others were also killed in almost the same area over 20 years back by the terrorists.
This was fourth major terror attack on Army in the twin border districts of Rajouri and Poonch in which 20 soldiers including two Captains have attained martyrdom.
Five bravehearts sacrificed their lives in terror attack at Bhatta Durrian, Mendhar in Poonch district on April 20 while an equal number of para commandos fell to the bullets at Keri in Rajouri district on May 5. Five jawans, two of them Captains, attained martyrdom on November 22 at Bajimaal in Dharamshal area of Rajouri in an encounter in which two foreign terrorists including dreaded Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) commander Quari was eliminated.
Major terror attacks in Rajouri, Poonch
* January 1, 2023: Seven civilians of minority community, two of them minors, were killed in firing and IED blast triggered by two foreign militants at village Dhangri in Rajouri district.
* November 22, 2023: Two Captains were among 5 soldiers who attained martyrdom while two foreign terrorists were killed in two-day-long gun battle at Bajimaal in Dharamshal area of Kalakote tehsil in Rajouri district.
* May 5, 2023: Five Army para commandos martyred and Major injured in an IED blast at Kandi, Rajouri.
* April 20, 2023: Five Army bravehearts sacrificed their lives at Bhatta Durrian in Mendhar tehsil of Poonch district.
* July 18, 2023: Four dreaded Pakistani terrorists were killed by Army at Sindhara Top in Surankote tehsil of Poonch.
* August 11, 2022: Five Army jawans were killed and two fidayeens were eliminated during attack on an Army camp at Pargal in Darhal area of Rajouri.
* December 18, 2022: Two civilians were killed in a militant attack outside Alpha Gate in Rajouri.
* Mar-Apr 2022: Four blasts rocked Koteranka tehsil in Rajouri district within a span of 28 days targeting police, labourers, marriage house etc but causing very little damage. All the blasts were later worked out by the police.
* October 11, 2021: Five Army soldiers including a JCO lost their lives in an encounter with militants at Chamrer forests in Surankote.
* October 16, 2021: Four more soldiers including another JCO lost their lives in gun battle with same group of militants at Bhatta Durrian in Mendhar tehsil of Poonch.
* October 30, 2021: Two Army jawans including a Lieutenant became victims to a mine blast in Nowshera sector of Rajouri district.
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