Terrorists Strike Again: Three Soldiers Killed, Three Injured in Ambush
 |
| Tragic Ambush Claims Three Lives in Poonch District |
Poonch, Jammu and Kashmir — In a brazen attack, heavily armed terrorists ambushed two Army vehicles in the Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday, resulting in the tragic loss of three soldiers and leaving three others critically injured.
Ambush at Dhatyar Morh
The incident occurred between Dhera Ki Gali and Bufliaz, under the jurisdiction of Surankote police station, around 3.45 pm. The targeted vehicles were transporting personnel to the site of a cordon-and-search operation. Officials revealed that the terrorists initiated the attack as additional forces were en route to the encounter site in the general area of Dhera Ki Gali.
#WATCH | J&K: Three Army personnel lost their lives while three others were injured in a terrorist attack on two military vehicles in the Thanamandi area in the Rajouri sector. Indian Army troops also immediately retaliated after being attacked by terrorists. The troops were… pic.twitter.com/JUmV5flvdy
— ANI (@ANI) December 21, 2023
Encounter at Dhera Ki Gali
A joint search operation had been launched the previous night in the Dhera Ki Gali region based on "hard intelligence" indicating the presence of terrorists. An encounter ensued, leading to the tragic ambush the following day. Reinforcements were immediately dispatched to the site, initiating a massive anti-terrorist operation.
Disturbing Visuals Emerge
Disturbing images and videos from the ambush site have surfaced, depicting blood on the streets, broken helmets of soldiers, and shattered windshields of the Army vehicles. Officials expressed concerns that the terrorists may have seized the weapons of the targeted soldiers during the attack.
📸SHOTS FROM GROUND ZERO.
— Aditya Rathore (@imAdityaRathore) December 21, 2023
3 dead & 3 Soldiers Injured after terrorist ambushed Indian Army Vehicles in Poonch, Jammu & Kashmir.
The terrorists fired upon the vehicles — a truck and a Gyps.
It happened at 3:30PM IST.#poonch #Jammu #indianarmy pic.twitter.com/hrmP9xwpRy
Challenging Terrain Raises Concerns
The stretch between Dhera Ki Gali and Bufliaz, on the boundary of Rajouri and Poonch districts, is known for its densely forested terrain. This area leads to Chamrer forest and then Bhata Dhurian forest. Notably, a similar ambush occurred in the same region on April 20 this year, resulting in the death of five soldiers.
#Poonch
— OSINT J&K (@OSINTJK) December 20, 2023
Visuals from the Poonch Blast Site.
More details awaited pic.twitter.com/GaQMD0H9O5
Grim Past Incidents
This unfortunate incident adds to a series of grim events in the region. In May, five Army personnel lost their lives, and a major-rank officer sustained injuries in Chamrer forest during an anti-terrorist operation. A foreign terrorist was also neutralized during that operation.
October 2021 witnessed two separate attacks in the forested region, claiming the lives of nine soldiers. On October 11, five Army personnel, including a junior commissioned officer (JCO), were killed in Chamrer, while on October 14, a JCO and three soldiers lost their lives in a nearby forest.
The latest ambush serves as a stark reminder of the persistent threats faced by security forces in the volatile region, highlighting the need for enhanced counter-terrorism measures. The nation mourns the loss of these brave soldiers and stands united against terrorism.
