BUNTY MAHAJAN
JAMMU, DECEMBER 21:
Four army soldiers were kill and an equal number of them injured in an encounter between security forces and militants on Mughal road near Dehra Ki Gali (DKG) in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir.
According to Army, an operation was being conducted in general area DKG(Dera ki Gali), Thanamandi, Rajouri, since the night of December 20. An army statement, however, confirmed that only three soldiers were killed.
“At approximately 3:45 PM on December 21, two army vehicles carrying troops were moving to the operational site, which were fired upon by the terrorist,” it said, adding that the fire was immediately retaliated upon by armytroops.
In the ongoing operation,three army soldiers were killed and three other injured, it added.
Pointing out that the Operation is in progress, it said that further details are being ascertained.
Meanwhile, sources said that two army vehicles including a Gypsy and truck were on way from Buffliaz in Poonch district’s Surankote sub division to the 48 RR headquarters at Thanamandi in Rajouri district.
As the vehicles reached below Topa Pir, militants who had already laid an ambush there, attacked them.
The troops retaliated and in the ensuing fire fight, four soldiers were killed and three others injured. The bodies of two of the soldiers were also mutilated by the militants.
In the same area, militants had in 2001 killed four people including the then District and Sessions Judge, Rajouri, V K Phool. The others included Phool’s friend and two policemen who were accompanying the judicial officer.
With Pakistan based militant outfits desperately making attempts to send militants, weapons, narcotics from across the Line of Control, the border Poonch and Rajouri districts have witnessed sudden spurt in militant activities during the past three years.
Since 2021, over 30 army personnel and over a dozen militants have been killed in encounters between them at different places in both Rajouri and Poonch districts. Ten civilians too have been killed by militants during the period.
Only last month, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Northern Command, Lt General Upendra Dwivedi had said that 20-25 militants are active in Rajouri and Poonch districts.
