On Thursday, a terrorist attack on a truck in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch claimed the lives of five soldiers from the Indian Army’s Rashtriya Rifles unit. The deceased soldiers have been identified as Havildar Mandeep Singh, Lance Naik Debashish Baswal, Lance Naik Kulwant Singh, Sepoy Harkrishan Singh, and Sepoy Sewak Singh. The incident occurred after the vehicle they were traveling in was fired upon by unidentified terrorists in the Rajouri sector of Jammu. One soldier was also injured in the attack and is currently receiving treatment at the Army Hospital in Rajouri.
The Indian Army’s 16 Corps based in Nagrota has expressed solidarity with the bereaved families of the slain soldiers, and the names of the victims were released to the public. The soldiers were deployed for counterterrorist operations in the area, and the incident has sent shockwaves throughout the country.
The attackers took advantage of heavy rains and low visibility in the area, the Army has said in a statement. It added that the army truck caught fire due to a likely grenade attack. Operations have been launched to trace the perpetrators, but so far there has been no clarity on the identity of the attackers.
Tributes have poured in for the victims from the political fraternity, with many expressing their shock and condemning the attack. National Conference vice president Omar Abdullah tweeted, “Terrible news of a terror attack in Poonch that claimed the lives of 5 army jawans in the line of duty. I unequivocally condemn this heinous attack & send my condolences to the loved ones of those killed today. May the souls of the departed rest in peace.”
Delhi Chief Minister and AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal expressed his shock over the death of the soldiers and called for the strongest punishment for those “behind this cowardly attack.” The attack has highlighted the ongoing tensions in the region and the need for continued efforts to maintain peace and stability.
