One of the four soldiers who was injured during the terrorist attack on an Indian Air Force (IAF) convoy in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch district on Saturday, is said to be critical, while the remaining three are stable. Additional IAF and Army personnel have been deployed at the site of the attack, which led to the death of one Air Force soldier.
While personnel from the IAF Garud Special Forces were positioned at the site, additional forces of the Army have reached the Jarra Wali Gali (JWG) in Poonch.
Security officials have said that a massive search and cordon operation is being carried out by the Army and Jammu and Kashmir Police to track down the terrorists involved in Saturday’s attack which occurred as the IAF convoy was heading to Sanai Top in Poonch’s Surankot area at around 6.15 pm.
Here are the latest developments:
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Army personnel have set up check posts in Poonch district and are conducting searches of vehicles as the security operation to track down the terrorists was underway on Sunday morning.
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Officials suspect the involvement of the same group of terrorists who ambushed troops in Bufliaz, Poonch on December 21 last year, leaving four soldiers dead and three injured, reports PTI news agency.
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One of the trucks in the IAF convoy bore the maximum brunt of the attack with several bullets hitting its windscreen and side, PTI reported. The terrorists were armed with AK assault rifles.
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Since Friday, police assisted by paramilitary forces had been carrying out searches in Poonch town following inputs about the movement of suspected persons. There were no arrests however.
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The Jammu and Kashmir Congress has condemned the attack and said, “We express our grave concern over the escalated attacks by terrorists in various parts of Jammu and Kashmir, especially in Rajouri-Poonch belt, resulting in the loss of several precious lives of our jawans and officers.”
(With inputs from ANI and PTI)