One soldier of the Indian Air Force was killed in action and five others were injured when two vehicles, including one of the IAF, came under heavy terrorist fire in the Surankote area of Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch district, sources said. Of the five injured, one airman is reportedly critical. They were all airlifted to the Command Hospital in Udhampur for further treatment, officials said.
Reinforcement was rushed to the area and counter-terror operations are underway. “The local Rashtriya Rifles unit started cordon and search operations in the area,” sources in the security forces said.
On X, the IAF said its convoy, which was attacked near Shahsitar, had been secured. “An Indian Air Force vehicle convoy was attacked by militants in the Poonch district of J&K, near Shahsitar. Cordon and search operations are underway presently in the area by local military units. The convoy has been secured, and further investigation is under progress,” it said.
Around 6:15 pm, the personnel were on their way to the air force station from Jaranwali when they were ambushed, officials said, reported news agency PTI.
This is the first major attack on the armed forces this year in the region which witnessed a series of terror attacks on the army last year. Visuals from after the attack showed at least a dozen bullet holes on the windscreen of the vehicle that came under fire.
The terrorists, armed with AK assault rifles, are believed to have fled into the nearby forests, officials said, adding that there has been no contact with the terrorists so far.
The police assisted by paramilitary forces have been conducting searches in Poonch since Friday following inputs about the movement of suspected persons. However, no one was arrested during the operation, the officials said.
Poonch is part of Anantnag-Rajouri parliamentary constituency which is going to polls in the sixth phase on May 25.
(With inputs from PTI)
