5 soldiers killed, 5 injured as terrorists attack army truck in J&K’s Kathua

Five soldiers were killed and five others were injured after terrorists ambushed an army truck in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kathua district on Monday afternoon, said officials. The six injured soldiers have been shifted to a military hospital.

The attack unfolded around 3.30pm at Badnota village of Loi Malhar in Billawar tehsil. The village is 120km from Kathua district headquarters and is located along the district’s boundary with the adjoining Doda district.

“An army truck was ambushed by armed terrorists in Badnota village of Loi Malhar area in Billawar on Monday afternoon. The terrorists, believed to be two to three in numbers, first lobbed a grenade and then resorted to firing from automatic weapons. At least four soldiers were killed and six others injured in the ambush,” said a police officer, who declined to be named.

The army is yet to issue a statement on the attack.

Earlier, a statement issued by police said, “Exchange of fire between terrorists and security forces in the Machhedi area of Kathua district. Two Army personnel injured. Massive search operation has been launched.”

“After attacking the army truck, terrorists fled into the nearby forest. Additional reinforcements have been rushed to the area and a search operation has been launched to track down the attackers,” it said.

There was intermittent exchange of fire between the security forces and the terrorists till filing of this report.

The terrorists were believed to have recently infiltrated from across the international border and were moving to the higher reaches.

The army vehicle was on a routine patrol on the Machhedi-Kindli-Malhar road.