Five Army Personnel, Including Junior Commissioned Officer, Killed in Terrorist Ambush in Kathua.

New Delhi: Defence Secretary Giridhar Aramane vowed today that the recent terror attack in Kathua, Jammu and Kashmir, which claimed the lives of five Army personnel, would not be left unanswered. Offering condolences to the families affected, he stated, “I deeply mourn the loss of our Bravehearts in the terrorist attack at Badnota, Kathua. My heartfelt sympathies go out to the bereaved families. Their dedicated service to the nation will be remembered forever. We will ensure their sacrifice is avenged, and India will prevail against the perpetrators of this heinous act.” These remarks were conveyed by the Defence Ministry in a statement.

Five Army personnel, including a Junior Commissioned Officer, lost their lives, and an equal number were injured yesterday in Kathua’s remote Machedi area when terrorists ambushed an Army patrol.

The attack, carried out with grenades and gunfire yesterday afternoon on an Army truck, forced the terrorists to flee into the nearby forest. A search operation is currently underway to apprehend them.

The Kashmir Tigers, identified as a shadow group linked to the banned Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM), has claimed responsibility for the assault.

This incident marks the second attack on the Army within a span of two days, amid a recent surge in terrorist activities in the Union Territory.

Expressing deep sorrow over the soldiers’ deaths, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh stated, “I am deeply anguished by the loss of five brave Indian Army soldiers in a terrorist attack in Badnota, Kathua (J&K). My heartfelt condolences to the grieving families. The nation stands resolutely with them during this challenging time. Counter-terrorist operations are ongoing, and our soldiers are resolute in restoring peace and stability to the region. I pray for the swift recovery of those injured in this cowardly terror attack.” These remarks were shared in a post on X.