J&K: 5 soldiers killed after terrorists ambush Army vehicle in Poonch

NEW DELHI: At least five soldiers were killed and one injured after an Army vehicle was ambushed by terrorists in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir.

"Today, at approximately 1500 hours, 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.


Jammu-based defence spokesperson had earlier said that the soldiers were killed after their vehicle caught fire while moving from Bhimber Gali to Sangiot in Poonch.

The five soldiers who lost their lives belonged to Rashtriya Rifles Unit and were deployed for counter-terrorism operations. The injured soldier has been evacuated and rushed to the hospital.

Defence minister Rajnath Singh has been briefed by Army Chief General Manoj Pande about the incident. The security forces have secured the area and launched a search operation.

Visuals showed semi-burnt bodies of the soldiers lying on the road beside the burning truck. It was not immediately clear how many soldiers were there in the vehicle when it caught fire. Local people and some army personnel were seen extinguishing the fire.

(With agency inputs)