Search operations underway in Kathua, Samba

Kathua (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], July 10 (ANI): Security forces are conducting a search operation in the Kathua and Samba district of Jammu and Kashmir days after five Army soldiers were killed in an ambush by terrorists on July 8.

Five Army soldiers lost their lives and as many as were injured in an ambush by terrorists in Kathua district on July 8.

The attack occurred on the Machedi-KindliMalhar road in a remote area, approximately 150 km from Kathua town, at around 3.30 pm on Monday.

The attack is believed to be the latest in a series of terrorist incidents in the region, which have been attributed to attempts by Pakistan to disrupt the peaceful atmosphere in Jammu and Kashmir.

The region where the ambush took place is part of the old infiltration route along the international border, which the attackers appear to have reactivated. The area is primarily monitored by the BSF and falls under the jurisdiction of the 9 Corps of the Army, under the Western Command.

The army personnel who lost their lives in the attack belonged to Uttarakhand. They are Rifleman Anuj Negi from Pauri, Nayab Subedar Anand Singh Rawat from Rudraprayag, Naik Vinod Singh from Tehri, Kamal Singh from Pauri and Adarsh Negi from Tehri.

The attack took place when a group of heavily armed terrorists ambushed the patrolling party of the Army in the Badnota area in Kathua.

This incident comes on the heels of several other terrorist attacks in Jammu and Kashmir, including a recent attack in Reasi area on a bus carrying pilgrims to the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine on June 9, which left nine people dead and 33 injured. The NIA has been investigating these incidents and has identified several suspects.

The region has seen a surge in terrorist activity in recent months, with several attacks on security forces and civilians.