3 soldiers killed in militant attack on Army vehicles in J&K’s Rajouri district

Jammu: Three Army personnel were killed and three others injured after militants attacked two military vehicles in the Thanamandi area of Jammu and Kashmir’s Rajouri district.

The army has cordoned off the area. “Based on hard intelligence, a joint operation was launched in Gen Area DKG last night, contact has been established today evening and encounter is in progress. Further details being ascertained,” the Army said in a statement.

Sources said that two vehicles, including a Gypsy and a mini truck, were on the way from Bufliaz in Surankote to Thanamandi in Rajouri, where the headquarters of the 48 Rashtriya Rifles is located.

As the vehicles reached below Topa Pir, militants who appeared to have already laid an ambush attacked the vehicles, sources said.

The attack near Topa Pir comes after over two decades after militants killed the Rajouri District and Sessions judge V K Phool along with his friend and two police personnel at the same location. The group were on their way from Rajouri to Poonch on December 1, 2001.

The twin border districts of Rajouri and Poonch, which were declared “militancy-free” by the Jammu and Kashmir Police in 2011, have again started witnessing a spurt in militant activity.

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