New Delhi: Five army personnel were killed in the Poonch area of Jammu and Kashmir when their vehicle was ambushed by “unidentified terrorists”, who “took advantage of heavy rains and low visibility”, officials told news agency PTI on Thursday, April 20.
Another soldier was seriously injured in the incident and was evacuated immediately to the Army Hospital at Rajouri, they said.
“Today, at approximately 1500 hours (3pm), one Army vehicle, moving between Bhimber Gali and Poonch in the Rajouri sector was fired on by unidentified terrorists, taking advantage of heavy rains and low visibility in the area. The vehicle caught fire, due to likely use of grenades by terrorists,” the Northern Command headquarters said in a statement.
The five deceased personnel belonged to the Rashtriya Rifles Unit. They were deployed for counterterrorist operations in the area.
“Operations are in progress to locate the perpetrators. Further details are being ascertained,” the statement read, as per news reports.
This statement was issued at 6:45 pm on Thursday. However, an earlier statement had said that the vehicle “caught fire”, leading to the casualties.
Defence minister Rajnath Singh tweeted at 6:33 pm, “Anguished by the tragedy in Poonch District (J&K), where the Indian Army has lost its brave soldiers after a truck caught fire. In this tragic hour, my thoughts are with the bereaved families.”
Anguished by the tragedy in Poonch District (J&K), where the Indian Army has lost its brave soldiers after a truck caught fire. In this tragic hour, my thoughts are with the bereaved families.
— Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) April 20, 2023