Poonch: In first attack of the year targeting security forces which comes nearly three weeks ahead of polling in Anantnag-Rajouri Parliamentary constituency, the terrorists ambushed a convoy of the Indian Army Force (IAF) at Bakrabal Mohalla near Sanai in Surankote tehsil of Poonch district this evening in which an IAF Warrior was martyred while five other soldiers were injured.
The attack resembled to December 21, 2023 ambush by the terrorists at Dera Ki Gali in Bufliaz area of Surankote in which four Army soldiers were martyred while three civilians were later killed under mysterious circumstances.
Reports said the terrorists, whose exact number couldn’t be ascertained immediately but it was believed to be three, had taken positions atop a hill and rained bullets on the IAF convoy when it reached Bakrabal Mohalla near Sanai in Surankote tehsil, which was almost isolated area, around 6.15 pm today.
Alert troops fired back and engaged the terrorists in gun battle but they managed to escape towards mountainous area.
Six IAF personnel sustained injuries in the attack, one of whom later attained martyrdom.
The martyr has been identified as Vicky Pahade and the injured as Basit, BL Singh, AK Mishra, Sham Lal and Dabhi SH.
“Five IAF personnel received bullet injuries and were evacuated to the nearest military hospital for immediate medical attention. One Air Warrior succumbed to his injuries later. Further operations are on by the local security forces,” a Defence spokesperson said in a post on X tonight.