Over the past three years, 43 soldiers from the Army, including elite para commandos, air force personnel, and officers from various units, have lost their lives in terror-related incidents across Jammu and Kashmir.
The shift in terrorist strategy became evident in 2021 when the Army engaged terrorists in the Chamrer and Bhatta Durrian forests of Poonch district.
This marked the first major attack in the Jammu region, which had been relatively peaceful since 2006.
Despite smaller regular incursions, troops stationed along the Line of Control (LOC) and the International border managed the situation effectively.
However, on October 11, 2021, five soldiers were killed in the Chamrer forests. Just five days later, on October 16, 2021, another four soldiers, including two Junior Commissioned Officers (JCOs), were killed in the Bhatta Durrian forests.
The terrorists behind these attacks used hit-and-run tactics and took advantage of the dense forest cover to remain elusive.
On October 30, 2021, two soldiers were killed in the Nowshera sector of Rajouri. On August 11, 2022, a devastating terror attack at Pargal in the Darhal area of Rajouri claimed the lives of five soldiers and resulted in the elimination of two fidayeens (suicide attackers).
In 2023, there was a sharp rise in terror incidents. On April 20, 2023, five soldiers were killed in Bhatta Durrian, Mendhar area of Poonch.
Two weeks later, on May 6, 2023, an IED blast orchestrated by terrorists in Kandi, Rajouri district, killed five para commandos and injured a Major.
The toll continued to rise with additional casualties in late 2023. On November 22, 2023, five soldiers, including two Captains, died while eliminating two foreign terrorists at Bajimaal in the Dharamshal area of Kalakote, Rajouri.
On December 21, 2023, five soldiers were killed and two others injured in an ambush at Dera Ki Gali (DKG) in the Surankote area of Poonch.
The year 2024 has been no different for the security forces. On April 28, 2024, a Village Defense Guard (VDG) and Jawan were killed in Basantgarh, Udhampur district.
On May 4, 2024, an Indian Air Force (IAF) soldier in Surankote, Poonch was killed. On June 11, 2024, a CRPF Jawan sacrificed his life in Hiranagar, Kathua.
The most recent incident occurred yesterday afternoon, with five Army jawans martyred in Machedi in the Billawar area of Kathua district.
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