Updated copy:
Jammu: The Indian Army has lost 5 soldiers while one was wounded in a fierce ongoing gun-battle with a group of heavily-armed terrorists in a forest area of Jammu and Kashmir’s border district of Rajouri.
While giving this information, the Army said there is a likelihood of casualties among the terrorists as well but details were not clear yet.
The anti-terror operation, which began on May 3, is continuing, Army spokesman said.
“Indian Army columns have been conducting relentless intelligence-based operations to flush out a group of terrorists involved in ambush on an army truck in Tota Gali area of Bhata Dhurian in Jammu region,” he said, referring to the incident of April 21 in Poonch in which 5 soldiers lost their lives.
“On specific information about presence of terrorists in the Kandi Forest in Rajouri Sector, a joint operation was launched on 03 May 2023.
“At about 0730 hours on 05 May 2023, a search team established contact with a group of terrorists well entrenched in a cave. The area is thickly vegetated with rocky and steep cliffs,” the spokesman said.
He said the terrorists triggered an explosive device in retaliation and the Army team suffered two fatal casualties with injuries to four more soldiers, including an officer.
Additional teams from the vicinity have been directed to the site of encounter, the spokesman said.
The injured personnel have been evacuated to Command Hospital, Udhampur.
“As per initial reports, a group of terrorists are trapped in the area. There is a likelihood of casualties in terrorists group,” he said.
Later, in an update, the Army said three soldiers, who were critically wounded in the gunfight in the morning unfortunately succumbed to their injuries.
The operation is in progress.
Internet has been suspended in Rajouri in view of the operation.
