On Thursday evening, terrorists launched an attack on a vehicle belonging to the 18 Rashtriya Rifles near the Line of Control (LoC) in the Nagin area of Gulmarg, Baramulla district, Jammu and Kashmir. The assault led to the martyrdom of two soldiers and the deaths of two porters who were assisting the army. Additionally, three other soldiers were injured in the attack. The injured personnel were quickly evacuated to 92 Base Hospital in Srinagar, where two of them tragically succumbed to their injuries.
Porters play a vital role in assisting the army in difficult terrains. They help transport essential supplies to remote and hilly areas, including the forward posts near the LoC. Unfortunately, two of these porters, who were supporting the soldiers, lost their lives in this terrorist attack.
According to army sources, more than three terrorists might have been involved in the ambush. Security forces have cordoned off the area and initiated a large-scale search operation to track down the assailants. It is suspected that the terrorists infiltrated from the LoC in the Bota Pathri sector of North Kashmir.
Earlier on Thursday morning, another terrorist attack occurred in South Kashmir’s Pulwama district. The assailants opened fire on a laborer in Batgund, injuring the victim, who was identified as Shubham Kumar, a resident of Uttar Pradesh. Kumar was rushed to a hospital and is currently receiving medical treatment for his injuries.
Adding to the unrest, the body of a non-Kashmiri youth was discovered in Srinagar’s Gunbagh area on the same morning. The deceased was identified as MD Jahud, a native of West Bengal. This marks a grim pattern, as this is the third attack targeting non-Kashmiris in the region within a week.
The recent spate of violence highlights an increase in terrorist activities targeting non-Kashmiri civilians. On October 20, terrorists carried out a targeted killing in Ganderbal, and on October 18, a similar attack took place in Shopian, claiming the lives of seven people. These incidents have created a wave of fear among non-locals residing in Jammu and Kashmir, heightening tensions in an already volatile region.
In light of the rising terrorist threats and continuous attacks, a high-level security meeting was convened at Raj Bhavan on Thursday. The meeting was attended by senior officials, including the North Wing Commander, the Director General of Police (DGP) of Jammu and Kashmir, the Corps Commander, and intelligence agency representatives. The primary agenda was to assess the current security situation and develop a robust strategy to counter the escalating violence and ensure the safety of civilians and security personnel alike.
This series of attacks underscores the ongoing challenges faced by security forces in Jammu and Kashmir as they continue to tackle insurgency and terrorism along the sensitive LoC and within the region.
