Indian Air Force Soldier Killed, Four Injured in Poonch Militant Attack

An Indian Air Force personnel was killed and four others were injured in a terror attack that took place in Poonch, Jammu. The incident occurred near Shahsitar between Surankote’s Sanai Top and Mendhar’s Gursai area, in the border district.

The ambush targeted two vehicles carrying the IAF personnel at around 6 pm, leading to the soldiers coming under fire from terrorists. Following the attack, the injured were swiftly evacuated to Udhampur for treatment via IAF helicopters, where one of them tragically lost their life.

A statement from the Indian Air Force revealed that in the face of the attack, the Air Warriors retaliated by returning fire. This resulted in five IAF personnel sustaining bullet injuries. One of the Air Warriors succumbed to the injuries while receiving medical care.

Meanwhile, a search and cordon operation has been initiated by the local security forces, with the Army’s Rashtriya Rifles and other units actively involved. This operation aims to locate the militants responsible for the attack in the area between Mendhar and Surankote.

The Poonch district, a part of the Anantnag-Rajouri parliamentary constituency, is gearing up for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections scheduled for May 25. This latest incident marks the third militant attack in the Pir Panjal region in the last two weeks.

The spurt in militant violence in the Rajouri-Poonch belt, which shares a border with Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, has been a concern since the abrogation of Jammu and Kashmir’s special status. These attacks underscore the security challenges faced in the region amidst the election preparations.