Srinagar, May 5 (KNS): At least 5 Army men were killed and an officer was injured after militants triggered an explosive during an anti-militancy operation in Kandi area of Rajouri district on Friday, Army said.
In a statement, issued to Kashmir News Service (KNS), Northern Command spokesperson said that Army columns have been conducting relentless intelligence based operations to flush out a group of militants involved in ambush on an army truck in Tota Gali area of Bhata Dhurian in Jammu region.
The statement reads that on specific information about presence of militants in the Kandi Forest in Rajauri Sector, a joint operation was launched on 03 May 2023.
"At about 0730 hours today, a search team established contact with a group of militants well entrenched in a cave. The area is thickly vegetated with rocky and steep cliffs," it reads.
It added the militants triggered an explosive device in retaliation. "The Army team has suffered two fatal casualties with injuries to four more soldiers including an officer."
The statement reads that additional teams from the vicinity have been directed to the site of encounter. "The injured personnel have been evacuated to Command Hospital, Udhampur."
The army further said that 3 soldiers who were injured also succumbed to their injuries during treatment at Command hospital in Udhampur.
It said the injured officer was undergoing treatment at the hospital.
“Operation in the area is going on and more reinforcement has also been called in, while senior Army and police officers are also at the spot monitoring the situation,” it said. (KNS)