Security Forces Launch Search Ops In J&K’s Kathua Day After Terrorists Kill 5 Soldiers

A day after five soldiers were killed in an attack by terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kathua, security forces have launched a search operation in the Machedi area.

Five army personnel were killed and four others were injured after an Indian Army convoy was attacked by terrorists in the Machedi area of Kathua district in Jammu and Kashmir on Monday.

The area falls under the 9 Corps of the Indian Army. After firing by terrorists, our troops also retaliated, as per defence officials.

The terrorists hurled a grenade and opened fire targeting Army vehicles which were on a routine patrol on the Machedi-Kindli-Malhar road at around 3.30 pm near Badnota village in Lohai Malhar, 150 km from Kathua town.

Security forces retaliated but the terrorists fled into the nearby forest, the officials said, adding an intermittent exchange of firing was going on between the terrorists and security forces when the last reports were received.

They said reinforcements have been rushed to the area to neutralise the terrorists, who are believed to have recently infiltrated from across the border and were moving to the higher reaches.

“The four troopers who have been injured were in the vehicle which came under grenade attack and firing by the terrorists,” an official said.

They said the injured were shifted to a military hospital, where the condition of two of them was stated to be “critical”.

This was the second major incident in Kathua district in the past four weeks.

Defence Minister condoles loss of lives

Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday morning took to X, consoling the deaths of the soldiers.

He wrote, “I am deeply anguished at the loss of five of our brave Indian Army Soldiers in a terrorist attack in Badnota, Kathua (J&K). My deepest condolences to the bereaved families, the Nation stands firm with them in this difficult time. The Counter Terrorist operations are underway, and our soldiers are determined to usher in peace and order in the region. I pray for a speedy recovery to those who sustained injuries in this dastardly terror attack.”