Indian Air Force As of now, there have been no reports of damage or casualties in the attack. The injured soldiers have been transported to a hospital for medical treatment.
New Delhi: According to sources, one soldier of the Indian Air Force was killed in action, and five others sustained injuries when two vehicles, including one belonging to the IAF, faced heavy terrorist gunfire in the Surankote area of Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch district. Among the injured, one airman is reportedly in critical condition. All the injured individuals were airlifted to the Command Hospital in Udhampur for further medical treatment, as confirmed by officials.
Additional forces were swiftly dispatched to the area, and counter-terror operations are currently in progress. “The local Rashtriya Rifles unit initiated cordon and search operations in the vicinity,” stated sources within the security forces.
On X, the Indian Air Force (IAF) announced that its convoy, targeted near Shahsitar, has been safeguarded. “An Indian Air Force vehicle convoy was attacked by militants in the Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir, near Shahsitar. Presently, cordon and search operations are ongoing in the area by local military units. The convoy has been secured, and further investigation is underway,” stated the IAF.
Around 6:15 pm, the personnel were en route to the air force station from Jaranwali when they were ambushed, according to officials as reported by news agency PTI.
This marks the first significant attack on the armed forces in the region this year, following a series of terror attacks on the army last year. Visuals captured after the attack depict at least a dozen bullet holes on the windscreen of the targeted vehicle.
Officials stated that the terrorists, armed with AK assault rifles, are suspected to have fled into the nearby forests. They further added that there has been no contact with the terrorists thus far.
Authorities reported that the police, with support from paramilitary forces, have been conducting searches in Poonch since Friday, prompted by intelligence regarding the movement of suspected individuals. However, officials stated that no arrests were made during the operation.
Poonch is situated within the Anantnag-Rajouri parliamentary constituency, which is scheduled to go to polls in the sixth phase on May 25.
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#WATCH | J&K: Morning visuals of tight security checking by Indian Army personnel in the Poonch district.
— ANI (@ANI) May 5, 2024
An Indian Air Force vehicle convoy was attacked by terrorists in the Poonch district.
One of the five Indian Air Force soldiers injured in the terrorist attack has… pic.twitter.com/SYoeTFgwVi