A day after an ambush left two soldiers and two civilian porters working with the Army dead in Jammu and Kashmir’s Baramulla district, the Army said that Pakistani terrorists were behind the attack.
A massive search operation continued on Friday in the Bota Pathri area of Baramulla in north Kashmir, following the Friday evening ambush. The attack also left three soldiers injured.
The ambush occurred near the Line of Control in the Nagin Dhok Bota Pathri area of Gulmarg, targeting a convoy of Rashtriya Rifles unit.
Officials said following the attack, a large-scale search operation was initiated by security forces to neutralize the attackers which is still underway. Additional forces were also deployed in the area to track the militants involved in the ambush.
The operation in the area is ongoing, they said.
The Army said that Pakistani terrorists were involved in the attack to “disrupt peace and stability” in Kashmir.
“On being fired upon, the alert troops swiftly and resolutely retaliated the fire, forcing the terrorists to retreat leaving behind a weapon and rucksack and escape into dense foliage, exploiting a Nala (stream)and fading light,” Army said.
They said two brave Indian Army soldiers, Rifleman Kaisar Ahmad Shah from Anantnag district of Jammu and Kashmir and Rifleman Jeevan Singh, from Sirsa district in Haryana, succumbed to the injuries sustained during an exchange of fire.
” The two brave hearts, despite being hit, responded and forced the terrorists to flee, before laying down their lives in this cowardly terrorist attack,” Army said.
They said actions by these brave soldiers prevented the terrorists from causing any further damage and demonstrated unwavering courage and commitment to safeguard the national security and counter the inimical agenda of Pakistan abetted terrorism in Kashmir.
Alongside the brave soldiers, two Kashmiri porters Zahoor Ahmad Mir resident of Boniyar and Mushtaq Ahmad Choudhary resident of Uri in Baramulla district were also killed while serving the Nation.
“It is evident that Pakistani terrorists are, deliberately and unregretfully, targeting Kashmiri locals to evoke the fear and terror in Valley, which is progressing towards peace and stability. The only ideology these terrorists espouse is, “The Reign of Terror in Valley”,” Army said.
The attack took place just hours after Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha chaired a Unified Headquarters (UHQ) meeting in Srinagar to review security, following a series of recent attacks. The meeting was attended by top security and intelligence officers.
Meanwhile, a wreath-laying ceremony of two soldiers and two defence porters, was held at the 15 Corp headquarters here on Friday.
Lieutenant Governor Jammu and Kashmir Manoj Sinha and other top civilian and security officers paid rich tributes to the fallen soldiers.
