On Friday, January 12, an episode of gunfire transpired in the Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir, prompting security forces to initiate a search operation.
The gunfire was documented in the Dhara Dhullian area within the Lower Krishna Ghati sector of Poonch, reports said.
As per reports, the firing was aimed at a convoy of security forces’ vehicles, and it is suggested that the assailants may have fled following the initial exchange of gunfire. Fortunately, no injuries have been reported thus far.
The Army provided a statement, stating, “At approximately 1800 today, suspected terrorists fired upon a convoy of security forces’ vehicles from a jungle near Krishna Ghati in the Poonch sector. No casualties were incurred by our troops. Joint search operations by the Jammu and Kashmir Police and the Indian Army are currently underway.”
A spokesperson for the defence department mentioned that they are in the process of gathering details about the incident.
This occurrence follows closely on the heels of a terrorist ambush on two army vehicles in Dhatyar Morh of Surankote in December, resulting in four soldiers losing their lives and three sustaining injuries. The People’s Anti-Fascist Front (PAFF), linked to Jaish-e-Mohammad, claimed responsibility for the December attack.
The report on this recent incident emerged after the Northern Army Commander conducted a review of the anti-terror operational plan for the year 2024, taking into account the prevailing security situation in the Jammu region.
Lieutenant General Upendra Dwivedi, the Northern Army Commander, conducted a comprehensive review of the operational plan, outlining strategies to neutralize terrorists, according to officials.
All stakeholders pledged to collaborate seamlessly to achieve the desired outcome, aiming to eradicate the roots of terrorism in the Poonch–Rajouri region. This marked the fourth high-level review meeting in response to the evolving situations in the Rajouri-Poonch area.
General Manoj Pande, Chief of Army Staff, underscored the security concerns in the Rajouri-Poonch region. He expressed that the situation is a cause for “concern,” highlighting measures such as increased troop deployment, reinforced intelligence capabilities, and community outreach to contain terrorist activities in the region.
The Army Chief noted a surge in terrorist activities in Rajouri-Poonch over the last five to six months. He remarked, “In the last five to six months, in Rajouri and Poonch, there has been an increase in terrorism. Terrorism in that area was eradicated in 2003, and peace was there till 2017-18.”
