3 soldiers killed in militant attack on Army vehicles in J&K’s Rajouri district

Sources said that two vehicles, including a Gypsy and a mini truck, were on the way from Bufliaz in Surankote to Thanamandi in Rajouri, where the headquarters of the 48 Rashtriya Rifles is located.

Three Army personnel were killed and three others injured after militants attacked two military vehicles in the Thanamandi area of Jammu and Kashmir’s Rajouri district on Thursday.

Indian Army troops immediately retaliated after being attacked. The troops were going to reinforce a joint operation going on against militants in the area since Wednesday evening.

The Army has cordoned off the area. “Based on hard intelligence, a joint operation was launched in Gen Area DKG last night, contact has been established today evening and encounter is in progress. Further details being ascertained,” the Army said in a statement.

Sources said that two vehicles, including a Gypsy and a mini truck, were on the way from Bufliaz in Surankote to Thanamandi in Rajouri, where the headquarters of the 48 Rashtriya Rifles is located.

As the vehicles reached below Topa Pir, militants who appeared to have already laid an ambush attacked the vehicles, sources said.

The attack near Topa Pir comes after over two decades after militants killed the Rajouri District and Sessions judge V K Phool along with his friend and two police personnel at the same location. The group were on their way from Rajouri to Poonch on December 1, 2001.

The stretch between Dehra Ki Gali and Bufliyaz is one of mostly densely forested areas located on the boundary of Rajouri and Poonch districts. This stretch leads to Chamrer forests and finally Bhata Dhurian forests.

The twin border districts of Rajouri and Poonch, which were declared “militancy-free” by the Jammu and Kashmir Police in 2011, have again started witnessing a spurt in militant activity.

With Pakistan-based militant groups making desperate attempts to revive the terror network in these two districts, security forces and police have killed 27 militants both along the Line of Control and in the hinterland this month alone. As many as 14 Army soldiers have also died in encounters with militants.

The Northern Army Commander, Lieutenant General Upendra Dwivedi, said recently that at least 20-25 terrorists were active in both these places.