KASHMIR NEWS TRUST #KNT
At least five soldiers were charred to death and one injured after an Indian Army vehicle was fired upon by militants on Thursday at around 3 pm in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir, according to a statement by the Army Headquarters, Northern Command.
The incident happened at Bhata Dhurian falls in Mendhar sub division.
Five personnel of the Rashtriya Rifles Unit deployed for counter militant operations in the area lost their lives in the incident. Another seriously injured soldier was evacuated immediately to the Army Hospital at Rajouri and is under treatment.
Defence spokesperson Lt Col Devender Anand said that at approximately 1500 hours, one Army vehicle, moving between Bhimber Gali and Poonch in the Rajouri sector was fired on by unidentified militants, taking advantage of heavy rains and low visibility in the area. The vehicle caught fire, due to likely use of grenades by militants.
Defence minister Rajnath Singh offered condolences to the families of the deceased tweeting that he was “anguished by the tragedy”. [KNT]
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
