At least two soldiers and two army porters were killed, and three others injured, in a militant attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Baramulla district.
Militants opened fire on an Army vehicle in the Bota Pathri area, six kilometres from tourist hotspot Gulmarg in north Kashmir, on Thursday evening. Three soldiers are among the injured.
The deceased porters have been identified as Mushtaq Ahmad Choudhary and Zahoor Ahmad Mir.
The Indian Army's Chinar Corps confirmed the exchange of fire on social media. This attack comes on the heels of another incident in Jammu and Kashmir's Ganderbal district, where a labourer, Pritam Singh from Uttar Pradesh, was shot and injured just hours earlier.
In the aftermath of the attack, the road leading to tourist destination Gulmarg has been sealed by the police at Tangmarg checkpost on Friday morning.
This is the second attack in Ganderbal in the past 72 hours. It follows a deadly militant attack three days prior, which claimed the lives of seven individuals, including five non-local workers and a local Kashmiri doctor, Dr. Shahnawaz of Nayidgam, Budgam.
The newly formed Chief Minister Omar Abdullah condemned the attack, describing it as "very unfortunate" and a "matter of serious concern".
“I condemn this attack is [sic] the strongest possible terms & send my condolences to the loved ones of the people who lost their lives. I also pray that injured make a complete & swift recovery,” Abdullah wrote on X.
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chief Mehbooba Mufti expressed shock and sadness, condemning the attack "unequivocally".
Sajad Lone, MP for North Kashmir's Handwara constituency, denounced the attack as a "senseless act of terror". “The increase in terror attacks after an elected government is in place highlights the disdain and contempt that these terror elements have for democratically elected governments. There is a significant spurt after elections. My thoughts with the families of those who lost their lives,” he wrote on X.
J&K Lieutenant General Manoj Sinha responding to the attack, ordered the Army to neutralise 'terrorists' behind the crime, he said, "Spoke to top army officials on heinous terror attack in Butapathri Sector. Directed for swift & befitting reply to neutralise terrorists. Operation in progress. Sacrifice of our martyrs will not go in vain. Condolences to their families. Praying for speedy recovery of injured."
BJP's union territory president Ravinder Raina condemning the attack, blamed Pakistan to be behind it and assured that the Indian Army will find the accused and 'punish' them.
"We condemn the attack carried out by coward Pakistani terrorists on an Army vehicle while taking advantage of darkness. We express condolences to the families of the martyrs," Raina said.
The BJP leader said Pakistan is repeatedly trying to destabilise peace and tranquillity in Kashmir.
"Terrorists do not have the courage to face the soldiers of the Indian Army and that is why, they attacked them while taking advantage of darkness," he said.
Raina added that the terrorists will not be spared.
"India will find each one of them and punish them," he said.
