In response to a deadly terrorist attack that claimed the lives of five army personnel and left two others injured, security forces initiated a large-scale cordon and search operation in the forest area of Poonch district. The operation, coordinated by the General officer Commanding (GoC), XVI corps, Lt Gen Sandeep Jain, included a National Investigation Agency (NIA) team's visit to the site.
The White Knight Corps, also known as XVI corps, expressed solidarity, stating, "Indian Army and White knight Corps salute the bravery and supreme sacrifice of five soldiers in Surankote yesterday while fighting the scourge of terrorism." The tribute underscores the commitment to combating terrorism in the region.
Officials reported that the operation involves aerial monitoring using helicopters, and sniffer dogs have been deployed to track down the terrorists responsible for ambushing two Army vehicles on Thursday afternoon. The cordon and search operation, which commenced in the morning following an overnight cordon, is still ongoing, with additional troops deployed to the area to intensify efforts in tracking down the assailants.
The assailants, heavily armed, ambushed the Army vehicles at Dhatyar Morh between Dhera Ki Gali and Bufliaz around 3:45 pm on Thursday.
Sources revealed that terrorists strategically chose the Dhatyar Morh location for the attack, exploiting a blind curve and a bumpy road where the Army vehicles naturally slowed down. Positioned atop a hill, the attackers fired bullets at the two Army vehicles. There are indications that the terrorists may have conducted reconnaissance at the site prior to the ambush, with an estimated three or four individuals believed to be involved in the attack.
Despite the security forces retaliating, the terrorists managed to escape from the location. The injured soldiers have been admitted to a hospital for treatment. The People's Anti-Fascist Front (PAFF), identified as an offshoot of the Pakistan-based terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), claimed responsibility for the ambush.
