Defence Minister Rajnath Singh expressed his deep sorrow on Tuesday over the death of five Army personnel in a terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kathua district.
Singh explained that counter-terror operations are ongoing and highlighted the soldiers' commitment to bring peace and order to the area.
Five army personnel lost their lives, and five others were injured on Monday when a well-armed group of terrorists ambushed a patrol in the Badnota area of Kathua.
“I am deeply anguished at the loss of five of our brave Indian Army soldiers in a terrorist attack in Badnota, Kathua (J&K),” the defence minister said on X.
“My deepest condolences to the bereaved families; the nation stands firm with them in this difficult time.
The counter-terrorist operations are underway, and our soldiers are determined to usher in peace and order in the region,” he added.
In 2024, Jammu and Kashmir witnessed a series of terror ambushes, particularly in the districts of Poonch, Rajouri, and Reasi.
Between June 9 and June 17 alone, there were five major attacks, including an assault on a bus carrying pilgrims in Reasi and multiple attacks on security forces in the Doda district.
Since January 2023, the Poonch-Rajouri region alone has seen at least 52 killings, including 25 security personnel and 25 terrorists.
This year, security forces have been especially targeted, leading to several deadly ambushes on security-sensitive places.
The trend of increasing violence in these areas is part of a broader shift in militant activities from the Kashmir Valley to the Jammu region, which had been relatively peaceful in recent years.
This shift has raised significant concerns among security agencies, prompting new strategies and heightened security measures to counter the growing threat.
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