• Over 40 soldiers have lost their lives in Jammu encounters since 2021
• It is same group that recently infiltrated from IB: Former DGP
• Foreign terrorists, local OGWs involved in Kathua attack: Officials
Srinagar, July 09: In a strategic shift, terrorists have redirected their focus towards the Jammu region. Over the past 3 years, there has been an increase in terrorist attacks resulting in casualties among security forces, officials said.
On July 08, 5 Army personnel including JCO were killed and 5 others were injured after terrorists attacked a military convoy in the remote Machedi area of Kathua district.
According to officials, Army vehicles were on a routine patrol on the Machedi-Kindli-Malhar road when they were attacked, approximately 150 km from Kathua.
The injured have been taken to a Pathankot hospital for treatment. This was the second attack on the Indian Army in the Jammu region in the past 48 hours.
On Sunday, an Army camp in Rajouri district was attacked by unidentified terrorists, resulting in one Army man being injured.
A senior police officer at PCR Kashmir stated that during the peak of terrorism in the 1990s, foreign terrorists often used the Machedi forests as a route from the Kathua border to reach Basantgarh and Bhaderwah.
“There is also a possibility that a newly infiltrated group carried out the attack and then escaped towards Basantgarh with the help of a guide,” he added, noting that 4-5 Over Ground Workers (OGWs) were involved in assisting them.
The officer mentioned that before attacking the convoy, the terrorists had conducted reconnaissance. A guide allegedly assisted them by helping them navigate the Machedi forests, identifying the target area, providing food and shelter, and then leading them back to their hideout.
He said that the situation in Kashmir has notably improved, highlighting a shift in the focus of infiltration activities to the south of Pir Panjal.
“Infiltration is not confined only solely to the Valley but more routes are being explored by terrorists. Handlers are currently attempting routes through Rajouri-Poonch, specifically the regions south of Pir Panjal and Jammu region,” the officer said.
He also noted that the withdrawal of troops from the region following its designation as a zero-terrorism zone before 2018 inadvertently enabled terrorists to establish new bases.
“Infiltration in the Kashmir valley has decreased in comparison to other pathways. The primary focus of infiltration has now shifted predominantly to areas south of Pir Panjal and Jammu region,” he added.
Former J&K’s Director General of Police (DGP) SP Vaid said that the attack on Army vehicles in Machedi Village in tehsil Billawar is very disturbing in an otherwise very peaceful district of Kathua.
“We have suffered some casualties. I am sure J&K Police along with Indian Army and Central Armed Forces will flush out the area of these remaining terrorists. It is only a matter of time,” he said.
Vaid said that this group of terrorists had reportedly crossed from the IB sector about 4/5 weeks back and after an encounter with VDC (where we lost a VDC member) in Udhampur, the group divided into two.
“One has already been eliminated in Doda and this happens to be the second of the two divided groups. They too will be eliminated at the earliest. My sincere condolences to the families of the lives we lost today,” he added.
Last week Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in Parliament the fight against terrorism in J&K is in its last stage, and that a multi-pronged strategy had been adopted to destroy the remaining network.
“Our fight against terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir, in a way, is in its last stage, last leg. We are moving with a multi-pronged strategy to eliminate the remaining terror network there,” PM Modi had said.
Two days ago, in a separate incident in the Rajouri district, there were reports of firing near an army camp. One soldier was injured. Although initial reports suggested an attempted overnight terror attack on the Manjakote army camp.
The Pir Panjal region – Rajouri and Poonch – was free from terrorism since 2003 but major attacks have resumed since October 2021.
In the past three years, 43 soldiers, including officers and commandos, have been killed.
Recent attacks
July 8: Five Army personnel, including a JCO, were killed, and five others injured in a terror attack on a military convoy in Kathua district.
July 10: An Army camp in Rajouri district was attacked, leaving one soldier injured.
June 09: Ten people were killed, and 33 injured in a terror attack on a bus carrying pilgrims to Shivkhori in the Reasi district.
June 11: Six security personnel were wounded in a terror attack on a joint Army and police post at Chattergalla, Doda. On June 12, two terrorists and a CRPF jawan were killed, and a civilian was injured in a gun battle at Hiranagar in Kathua district.
May 04: 1 Air Force (IAF) personnel was killed and 4 others were injured after terrorists ambushed their convoy near Shahsitar in Poonch. Terrorists have used US-made M4 rifles and AK-47s to attack the convoy.
April 28: A Village Defence Guard (VDG) was killed in a terror attack at Basantgarh in Udhampur district, with the terrorists escaping the scene.
April 22: A Social Welfare Department (SWD) official was killed by terrorists, with his brother, a Territorial Army jawan, surviving the attack at Shahdara Sharief in Rajouri district.
Dec 2023: Five Army soldiers were killed, and two others injured in a terror attack at Dera Ki Gali, Surankote in Poonch district. The following day, four civilians under detention were killed.
Nov 22, 2023; Two Captains were among five soldiers killed, while two foreign terrorists were killed in a two-day-long gun battle at Bajimaal in the Dharamshal area of Kalakote tehsil in Rajouri district.
May 06, 2023: Five Army para-commandos were martyred, and a Major was injured in an IED blast at Kandi, Rajouri.
July 18, 2023: Four dreaded Pakistani terrorists were killed by the Army at Sindhara Top in Surankote tehsil of Poonch.
April 20, 2023: Five Army soldiers lost their lives at Bhatta Durrian in Mendhar tehsil of Poonch district.
Jan 2023: Seven civilians of the minority community, including two minors, were killed in firing and an IED blast triggered by two foreign terrorists at Dhangri village in Rajouri district.
August 2022: Five Army jawans were killed, and two fidayeens were eliminated during an attack on an Army camp at Pargal in the Darhal area of Rajouri.
Dec 18, 2022: Two civilians were killed in a terrorist attack outside Alpha Gate in Rajouri.
Oct 11, 2021: Five Army soldiers, including a JCO, lost their lives in an encounter with terrorists in the Chamrer forests of Surankote.
Oct 16, 2021: Four soldiers, including another JCO, lost their lives in a gun battle with terrorists at Bhatta Durrian in Mendhar tehsil of Poonch.
Oct 30, 2021: Two Army jawans, including a Lieutenant, were victims of a mine blast in the Nowshera sector of Rajouri district.
