“Kathua Ambush: Five Soldiers Martyred, Terrorists Flee into Forest”

Jammu: In yet another attack on security forces, five army personnel were killed and five injured on Monday when terrorists ambushed their vehicle in the remote hilly terrain of Kathua district, officials said.

Officials informed that terrorists hurled a grenade and opened fire, targeting Army vehicles on a routine patrol on the Machedi-Kindli-Malhar road near Badnota village in Lohai Malhar, Billawar, around 150 km from district headquarters Kathua.

They said an army truck carrying 10 soldiers was attacked at an isolated location. “After hurling grenades, terrorists opened indiscriminate fire on the vehicle. Security forces retaliated, but the terrorists fled into the nearby forest, taking advantage of the dense vegetation,” an officer engaged in the operation said, adding, “An intermittent exchange of fire occurred between the terrorists and security forces for a few minutes, but it is believed the terrorists are hiding in the forest as no fresh firing has been reported.”

Reinforcements have been rushed to the area to trace and neutralize the terrorists, an official said, adding that a total of 10 troopers were injured and four of them later succumbed to their injuries.

Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh expressed his condolences for the soldiers who were martyred in the ongoing encounter in Kathua, Jammu and Kashmir.