Jammu: Four soldiers were killed and three others injured when militants attacked an army vehicle at Thanamandi area of Rajouri district of J&K on Thursday.
Officials said that the militants targeted two army vehicles, a gypsy and a 1-ton vehicle, which were en route to fortify the cordon in the area in neighbouring Surankote, Poonch where anti-terror operation was underway following mysterious explosion near Armed Police Headquarters yesterday late night.
A Jammu-based defence spokesman said that an operation was being conducted in general area DKG (Dera Ki Gali), Thanamandi, Rajouri, since last night.
“Around 3:45 PM, two army vehicles carrying troops were moving to the operational site, which was fired upon by the militants. The fire was immediately retaliated upon by their own troops. Four soldiers lost their lives in the operation while three suffered injuries and evacuated to nearest medical care,” the spokesperson said, adding, “Operation are in progress. Further details are being ascertained”.
The attack took place in the same area where five soldiers of the Army were killed in a deadly attack in the Dara Ki Gali (DKG) area of Surankote in Poonch. The operation lasted for more than a month in which nine army officials were killed in action while one militant was killed after months of attack.
‘Yesterday’s Explosion’
Yesterday around 9.30 pm a low intensity explosion took place in the Armed Police company base and a few vehicles parked in the premises were damaged in the explosion.
Official sources said four cars suffered minor to moderate damages with panes of these vehicles damaged.
Official sources further said that the nature of this explosion is yet not clear but official quarters have suspicion of this to be a grenade explosion. (KNO)
