Terrorists open fire on Army convoy in Poonch

Srinagar, Jan 12:Suspected terrorists targeted a convoy of security forces in the Krishna Gathi area of Poonch district on Friday evening. Officials report no casualties or injuries.
The incident occurred around 6 pm when the convoy came under fire from the terrorists believed to be hiding in a jungle near Krishna Ghati in the Poonch sector. An army spokesperson confirmed that there were no casualties among the security forces. Joint search operations led by the Army and Jammu and Kashmir Police are currently underway.
This marks the second attack on the Army in the region within a few weeks, following an ambush in Poonch’s Dera Ki Gali that resulted in the loss of four soldiers and injuries to five others.
The Pir Panjal region, encompassing Rajouri and Poonch, had enjoyed relative peace since 2003, but a resurgence in major attacks has been noted since October 2021. In the last seven months, 20 soldiers, including officers and commandos, have lost their lives, with over 35 casualties in the past two years.
Expressing concern over the escalating terrorism, Army Chief General Manoj Pande outlined a nine-point action plan on Thursday. The plan focuses on enhancing intelligence gathering and improving coordination with local authorities.
This incident comes in the wake of heightened security measures following an attack where three civilians lost their lives after being detained for questioning. The detained individuals were suspected to be linked to a terrorist attack that claimed the lives of four soldiers.
In related developments, the CRPF recovered four improvised explosive devices (IEDs) in tiffin boxes and around two dozen bullets of AK series assault rifles in Rajouri district on Thursday. Security forces also seized 2.5 kg of narcotics from a forward village near the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch a day earlier.