JAMMU, May 05: Five Army personnel, including two paratroopers, were martyred after terrorists triggered an explosive device following an encounter with security forces in the Kandi forests of Rajouri on Friday morning, the Army spokesperson said.
The army spokesman said that terrorists triggered an explosive device in retaliation in which two Army jawans were martyred, while four others, including an officer, were injured.
All the injured were immediately airlifted to Command Hospital Udhampur. Later, three injured jawans succumbed to their injuries taking the toll of casualties to five.
Earlier during the day, Internet services were suspended in the area but was restored later.
“Shortly after the encounter, DGP Dilbagh Singh arrived at the spot to oversee the ongoing operation.” The Army, CRPF, and police have launched a joint search operation in the area.According to the spokesman, on May 3 following specific inputs regarding the presence of terrorists in the in the Kandi forests in Rajouri, security forces initiated a joint search operation.
“At approximately 07:30 hours on Friday, a search team established contact with a group of terrorists well entrenched in a cave,” the army spokesman stated, adding that “the area is densely vegetated with rocky and steep cliffs.” , Soon after the encounter broke out, additional reinforcement have been sent to the spot.
“There is, however, no confirmation about terrorist casualties and how many are trapped,” PRO Defence Lt Col Devendra Anand told Rising Kashmir, adding that “there is every likelihood of terrorist casualties in the ongoing encounter, but the number of deaths will only be confirmed once we recover the terrorists’bodies.”
Meanwhile, the encounter and the search operation was still going on till filing of this report. The security forces have cordoned off the entire area to make sure that the trapped terrorists do not manage to escape.
“The operation to eliminate the terrorists is still in progress,” an Army spokesman said, adding, forces have cordoned off the entire area and are on the job to eliminate the terrorists and ensure that they do not escape taking the advantage of darkness.”
Meanwhile, the Army jawans who laid down their lives have been identified as L/Nk Ruchin Singh Rawat, s/o Rajendra Singh, r/o village Kunigad, Tehsil Gairsain, Uttrakhand, Paratrooper SidharthChettri, s/o KharkaBhadur, P/O Pulbazar, District Darjeeling, West Bengal, Nk Arvind Kumar, s/o Ujwaal Singh, r/o Village Suri (Chatiala), P/O Marhoon, Tehsil Palampur, District Kangra (Himachal Pradesh), Hav Neelam Singh, s/o Gurdev Singh, r/o village Dalpat, P/O Jourian, Akhnoor, District Jammu, and Paratrooper Parmod Negi, s/o Devider Singh Negi. r/o Village Shillai, District Sirmaur, Himachal Pradesh.
LG extends condolences
The Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha has extended his deepest condolences to the families of army personnel who made the supreme sacrifice in the ongoing operation against the terrorists in Rajouri.
“I convey my heartfelt condolences to the families of the brave army personnel martyred in a joint operation against terrorists. We are firmly resolved to combat and defeat the terrorist menace, which is sponsored from across the border”.
The Lt Governor is monitoring the developments and he is in touch with the top officials of Army and Jammu Kashmir Police.
