In a tragic incident today, four soldiers were killed and three others injured in a gunfight with terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch district, according to the army. The encounter unfolded when terrorists ambushed two army vehicles passing through Dera Ki Gali in Rajouri’s Poonch region at 3:45 pm.
The army had been engaged in an ongoing operation in and around Dera Ki Gali, also known as DKG area, since Wednesday night. A joint operation was launched based on hard intelligence in the general area of DKG the previous night. Contact with the terrorists was established this evening, and the encounter is currently in progress, as confirmed by a defense spokesperson.
This unfortunate incident follows the loss of five soldiers, including two Captains, in action last month during an anti-terror operation in Rajouri’s Kalakote. The region has witnessed a surge in terrorist activities, becoming a hotbed for attacks on the army in recent years. In twin attacks in April and May this year, ten soldiers lost their lives in the Rajouri-Poonch region.
Remarkably, the area had enjoyed relative peace from terrorism between 2003 and 2021, after which frequent encounters began occurring. Over the past two years, more than 35 soldiers have been killed in action during anti-terror operations in the region. The ongoing encounter underscores the persistent security challenges faced by the armed forces in this volatile area.
