Page 2 - Poonch

Poonch attack: Army pays tributes to fallen soldiers, search op continues

A wreath laying ceremony was on Sunday held in Jammu and Kashmir's Rajouri for the four soldiers who lost their lives after being ambushed by terrorists in nearby Poonch district, officials said. A search operation to track down the fleeing terrorists continues near the scene of the ambush, while mobile internet services remained suspended in the twin districts for the second day on Sunday, they said. General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Northern Command, Lt Gen Upendra Dwivedi led the wreath-laying ceremony of Naik Birendder Singh, Naik Karan Kumar, rifleman Gautam Kumar and rifleman Chandan Kumar at a military camp where their mortal remains were shifted. General Officer Commanding of Jammu-based White Knight Corps Lt Gen Sandeep Jain, Deputy Commissioner Rajouri Vikas Kundal, Senior Superintendent of Police, Rajouri Amritpal Singh and other officers and ranks of the Army also paid floral tributes. The soldiers lost their lives when their two vehicles were ambushed by terrorists

Army orders investigation into deaths of three civilians in J-K's Poonch

The Army has ordered a thorough internal investigation into the deaths of three civilians in the Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir following allegations that they died in its custody, people familiar with the matter said on Sunday. The three civilians were allegedly picked up by the Army for questioning in the wake of the killing of four Army jawans in an ambush by unidentified terrorists in Poonch on December 21. The three civilians, aged between 27 and 42, were found dead on December 22. Their relatives and political leaders have alleged that the three died due to "custodial torture" as they were among the eight people picked up by the Army for questioning. A thorough investigation has been ordered into it (the deaths of the civilians) as part of the standard operating procedure, the people cited above said. The Jammu and Kashmir police are also probing the deaths. The Army on Saturday said it stands committed to extending "full support and cooperation" in the conduct of ...

J-K govt to give compensation, jobs to kin of 3 civilians killed in Poonch

The Jammu and Kashmir administration on Saturday announced compensation and jobs to the kin of the three civilians who were found dead near the site of an anti-terrorist operation in Poonch district. Political parties in Jammu and Kashmir have alleged that the three men, who were found dead under mysterious circumstances on Friday, were among the people picked up by the Army for questioning in connection with the killing of five soldiers in a terrorist ambush in the district on Thursday. In a post on X, the Information and PR department of the Union Territory said, "The death of three civilians was reported yesterday in Baffliaz of Poonch District. The medico legal formalities were conducted and legal action in this matter has been initiated by the appropriate authority. "Government has announced compensation for each of the deceased. Further Government has also announced compassionate appointments to the next of kin of each deceased," it stated. Five soldiers were killed and two .

Search op using helicopters, sniffer dogs ongoing in J&K a day after ambush

Security forces Friday launched a massive cordon and search operation in the forest area of Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district and a National Investigation Agency team also visited there, a day after five army personnel were killed and two others injured in a terrorist attack. The General officer Commanding (GoC), XVI corps, Lt Gen Sandeep Jain visited Ground Zero and reviewed the situation with top army and police officers, officials said. "Indian Army and White knight Corps salutes the bravery and supreme sacrifice of four soldiers in Surankote on yesterday while fighting the scourge of terrorism", White Knight Corps, or XVI corps, wrote on X. An official said aerial monitoring using helicopters is also being conducted and sniffer dogs have been pressed into service to track down the terrorists who ambushed two Army vehicles in the area Thursday afternoon. "A massive cordon and search operation has begun this morning after a night cordon in area," an officer told PTI. The ...

5 soldiers killed, 2 injured as terrorists ambush Army vehicles in Poonch

Five soldiers were killed and two injured when heavily-armed terrorists ambushed two Army vehicles in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district on Thursday, officials said. The bodies of two of the slain soldiers were mutilated, they said. The vehicles carrying the personnel to the site of a cordon-and-search operation came under attack at a blind curve at Dhatyar Morh between Dhera Ki Gali and Bufliaz under the jurisdiction of the Surankote police station around 3.45 pm, according to the officials. Two former chief ministers of Jammu and Kashmir -- Ghulam Nabi Azad and Mehbooba Mufti -- strongly condemned the attack. The People's Anti-Fascist Front (PAFF), an offshoot of Pakistan-based terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), claimed responsibility for the ambush. Jammu-based defence PRO Lieutenant Colonel Suneel Bartwal said a joint search operation was launched in the general area of Dhera Ki Gali in the Thanamandi-Surankote region of Poonch on Wednesday night on the basis of "hard ...

Terrorists ambush Army vehicles in J&K's Poonch, 4 jawans killed, 3 injured

At least three jawans were injured as terrorists ambushed two Army vehicles in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district on Thursday, officials said. The vehicles came under attack in the Savni area on the Rajouri-Thanamandi-Surankote road around 3.30 pm. They were carrying jawans from an area near Bufliaz where a cordon-and-search operation against terrorists has been underway since Wednesday night. The terrorists fired upon the vehicles -- a truck and a Gypsy -- leaving at least three jawans injured, the officials said. A defence PRO said, "Based on hard intelligence a joint operation was launched...last night, contact has been established today evening and encounter is in progress. Further details being ascertained." Additional forces have been rushed to the spot, the officials said.

BSF jawan reported missing near LoC in J-K's Poonch district: Officials

A BSF jawan was reported missing from his post near the Line of Control in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir, officials said on Saturday. The constable, hailing from Bihar, was on general duty at the Bharani forward post in Balakote sector when he went missing on Friday, they said. They said Border Security Force (BSF) troops carried out a search operation for the jawan who could not be traced following which a missing report was lodged with the concerned police station.

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Army foils infiltration bid in J-K's Poonch, two terrorist gunned down

A terrorist was gunned down in a gunfight as Army troops guarding the Line of Control (LoC) on Monday scuttled an infiltration attempt from across the border in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district, officials said. The alert troops in Degwar sector noticed the movement of some terrorists attempting to sneak into this side under the cover of darkness in the early hours of the day and engaged them in an encounter, the officials said. They said one terrorist was gunned down but his body was yet to be retrieved from the scene. Jammu-based defence PRO Lt Col Suneel Bartwal said an army ambush party established contact with terrorists in Garhi battalion area around 2 am. Two individuals were observed moving across LoC in the general area Degwar Terva. In the ensuing firefight, one terrorist was seen dropping while the second moved towards Pintu Nala, the officer said. The whole area was cordoned off and a search operation is underway, officials said, adding further details are awaited.

Narco-terror case: SIA raids continue for second day in J-K's Poonch

The State Investigation Agency (SIA) conducted raids in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district in connection with a narco-terrorism case for the second day on Sunday, officials said. The SIA carried out raids at multiple locations in the border district and questioned several people to expose the narco-terror module headed by Rafiq Lala, who was arrested under the Public Safety Act (PSA) early this year, they said. On Saturday, the SIA raided over half-a-dozen places, including Lala's house in Danna Doyiyan village in Mandi tehsil. In March, 7 kilograms of heroin, over Rs 2 crore in cash and a pistol along with some ammunition were recovered from Lala's house. The SIA took Lala into custody on July 1 for questioning him over his alleged links across the border.

Infiltration bid in J-K's Poonch foiled in joint operation, soldier injured

An infiltration bid was foiled in the Krishna Ghati sector of Jammu and Kashmir on the intervening night of June 23-24, in a joint operation by the Indian army and the Jammu and Kashmir police, as per an statement from the Army.This comes two days after four terrorists were killed in the Kala Jungle of the Machhal sector when they were trying to infiltrate the Indian side from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.The Army statement said a soldier sustained gunshot wounds in the exchange of fire between infiltrators and the Army.The Indian Army said that an intelligence based-counter operation 'Resham" was jointly launched by the Jammu and Kashmir Police and Army.Army's Jammu-based White Knight Corps said in a tweet, "Infiltration Bid Eliminated in Krishna Ghati Sector on 23/24 Jun, in which 1 soldier suffered GunShot Wound & evacuated. 3 infiltrators running towards LC engaged by own troops & seen falling down near LC".On June 16, the Joint security forces in a major operation ...

Jammu-Kashmir's Poonch gets first-ever automated cash recycler machine

Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district on Wednesday got its first-ever automated cash recycler machine which will ensure hassle-free deposit and withdrawal of cash and reduce long queues of customers at bank counters. According to officials, with the installation of a cash recycler a much-awaited demand of local businessmen has been fulfilled. Poonch Muncipal Council chairman Sunil Sharma along with J&K Bank's deputy general manager (DGM) Satish Kumar inaugurated the cash recycler here. "It is a great initiative of J&K Bank to fulfil the much-awaited demand of the people of the border region, particularly of the business community," Sharma told reporters. He said that the bank needs to open more such machines in the town so that rush at branches is done away with. DGM Kumar said the cash recycler machine will cater to more than 60,000 people of the area. Manager Deepak Bhan said that the J&K Bank the machine will help the bank improve its services for the customers.

People to stay indoors as Army carries out anti-terrorist ops in Poonch

The Army on Sunday launched a massive search operation in a forward area in Jammu and Kashmir's border district of Poonch after troops picked up suspicious movement and opened fire, officials said. No one was injured in the firing by the soldiers on patrolling duty at Keri in Mendhar sector around 3 am, they said. Though there was no retaliation from the suspected persons, the Army launched a massive search operation in the area and adjoining forests to ensure that there is no presence of terrorists, the officials said. All roads leading to the besieged vast area were closed and the residents were asked to stay indoors as a precautionary measure, they said, adding the searches were completed in the populated area but no one was arrested. However, the combing operation is still going on in the woods but there was no contact with the suspected terrorists so far, the officials said. The nearby Bhata Dhurian witnessed a deadly ambush by terrorists on an Army vehicle on April 20, resul

Locals sheltered terrorists, weapons came from Pak via drones: J&K DGP

Jammu and Kashmir Police on Friday claimed that the terror plot in last week's Poonch ambush has been uncovered and six locals have been arrested for sheltering the terrorists before they carried out the attack on an army vehicle using explosives and weapons that came from Pakistan through drones. Director General of Police Dilbag Singh said the April 20 attack was a well-planned one and executed by three to five terrorists. They first did a recce of the area, understood the terrain and then chose the spot of attack. He said over 200 people have being questioned till now and the operation to neutralise the terrorists involved in the attack is on. "Six persons (of a module) have been arrested. They include those who have provided material (weapons, ammunition, explosives) to the terrorists besides shelter and food and guided them from one to another place," Singh told reporters during a visit to Rajouri district. "We are getting clues during questioning. We are working on that," he

Congress questions Modi govt's 'silence' on Poonch attack, accuses Centre

The Congress on Thursday questioned the Modi government's "silence" on the Poonch attack and cited several terror assaults in Jammu and Kashmir recently to accuse the Centre of endangering national security. Five Army personnel were killed and another was seriously injured on April 20 after their vehicle caught fire following a terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch. Addressing a press conference at the AICC headquarters here, Congress' media department head Pawan Khera said seven days have passed, but Prime Minster Narendra Modi has "not uttered a single word" of condolence on the Poonch terror attack for the five Indian Army soldiers but was seen cracking a rather crude joke about a "suicide of a girl" at a media event on Thursday. "PM Modi has not come out with any reaction condemning the terror attack, even as reports indicate a Taliban link in the same," Khera said. He said multiple media reports indicate that the highly penetrative and ricocheting 'steel core' bullets

Poonch terror attack: Over 40 detained for questioning, search ops continue

More than 40 persons have been detained for questioning as part of a massive operation currently underway to track down the terrorists involved in the Poonch terror attack, officials said on Monday. Additional troops have been inducted to further intensify the cordon-and-search operation (CASO) in Bhata Dhurian-Tota Gali and neighbouring areas. As the operation entered fourth day on Monday with engagement of multiple security agencies, the entire belt is put under cordon, they said. Five Army personnel were killed and a sixth was seriously injured when their vehicle caught fire during a terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch on Thursday. According to the investigation, the terrorists likely hid in a culvert on a stretch of the Bhimber Gali-Poonch road before they attacked the truck that was carrying army jawans, officials said. A sniper is believed to have targeted the army truck from front before his associates showered bullets and lobbed grenades at it from opposite sides, .

Farooq Abdullah's remarks on Poonch terror attack unacceptable: BJP

A day after National Conference (NC) president Farooq Abdullah asked security agencies not to harass innocents during their operation against the perpetrators of a recent terror attack in Poonch, the BJP on Sunday said the former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister's remarks are unacceptable as those could hamper the probe. The saffron party also said people should also understand the "ill motives" of the NC leadership, which is trying to create a wedge between communities by misusing such critical situations. "Abdullah accused investigation agencies of harassing common people in the name of the Poonch terror attack probe. He should not mislead people and rather ask them to join the probe to punish the culprits as soon as possible," senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Kavinder Gupta said here. Five Army personnel were killed and one was seriously injured after their vehicle was attacked by terrorists in Poonch on Thursday. The soldiers were from a Rashtriya Rifles unit deployed

Don't harass innocents in Poonch attack investigation: Farooq Abdullah

National Conference president Farooq Abdullah on Saturday said security forces should not harass innocent people during their operation against the perpetrators of the Poonch terror attack that killed five Indian Army soldiers. "They have started operation in Pooch. They should not arrest innocent people. It was their mistake, they should not harass innocent people. It is wrong and it should be avoided, " Abdullah told reporters after offering Eid prayers at the Hazratbal shrine here. Five Army personnel were killed and another was seriously injured after their vehicle was attacked by terrorists in Poonch district Thursday. The soldiers were from a Rashtriya Rifles unit deployed for counter-terror operations. Abdullah also expressed surprise that Eid prayers were not allowed at the Jamia Masjid. "It is unfortunate that Eid prayers were not allowed at Jamia Masjid. I thought they were allowing the prayers there. The government is saying that situation is peaceful. Then why are they

BSF director general visits LoC in Rajouri, Poonch; reviews security

The director general of Border Security Force (BSF) S L Thaosen on Saturday visited forward areas and reviewed security situation and challenges along the Line of Control (LoC) in twin border districts of Jammu and Kashmir, officials said. The DG also had security-related discussions with Director General of Police Dilbag Singh and other CRPF commanders based in Rajouri and Poonch, they said. Thaosen, who arrived in Jammu on a two-day visit on Thursday, visited forward defence locations in Rajouri and Poonch districts and reviewed the overall deployment of BSF and also domination plan on FDLs, they said. During his visit, the DG also interacted with BSF jawans on the ground and exhorted them to deliver their best at all times. Flanked by BSF ADG P V Rama Sastry, IG D K Boora, senior police and CRPF officers, DG Thaosen reviewed the challenges and present security situation during his visit to BSF field locations in Jammu, Rajouri and Poonch. Earlier on Thursday, he reviewed the ..

Poonch terror attack: Names of five soldiers killed released by Indian Army

The deceased soldiers are Havildar Mandeep Singh, Lance Naik Debashish Baswal, Lance Naik Kulwant Singh, Sepoy Harkrishan Singh and Sepoy Sewak Singh