5 soldiers make supreme sacrifice as militants ambush army vehicle in Poonch

Poonch, Apr 20 (PTI) Five army personnel were made the supreme sacrifice after militants ambushed their vehicle in Poonch area of Jammu and kashmir taking advantage of heavy rains and low visibility, officials said on Thursday.

Another soldier was seriously injured in the incident and was evacuated immediately to the Army Hospital at Rajouri, they said.

“Today, at approximately 1500 hours, one Army vehicle, moving between Bhimber Gali and Poonch in the Rajouri sector was fired on by unidentified terrorists, taking advantage of heavy rains and low visibility in the area. The vehicle caught fire, due to likely use of grenades by militants,” the Northern Command Headquarters said in a statement.

It said the five deceased personnel belonged to the Rashtriya Rifles Unit and were deployed for counterterrorist operations in the area.

Operations are in progress to trace the perpetrators, the statement said, adding further details are being ascertained.

Earlier, a Jammu-based defence spokesperson had said the soldiers were killed after their vehicle caught fire while moving from Bhimber Gali to Sangiot in Poonch.

Army and police personnel have rushed to the spot, which is 90 kilometres from Poonch.