An operation against militants, who ambushed an Army vehicle and killed two soldiers and two Army porters in north Kashmir’s Baramulla on Thursday (October 24, 2024) evening, continued for the second day on Friday (October 25, 2024).
An Army spokesman said terrorists from Pakistan, with a view to disrupt peace and stability in Kashmir, targeted an Army column in a cowardly manner in the general area of Butapathri, Baramulla. Official sources said armour-piercing bullets were again used by the attackers who have remained at large.
“On being fired upon, the alert troops swiftly and resolutely retaliated the fire, forcing the terrorists to retreat leaving behind a weapon and rucksack. They escaped into dense foliage, exploiting a nala [stream] and fading light. Regrettably, two brave Indian Army soldiers succumbed to the injuries sustained during the exchange of fire,” the Srinagar-based Army spokesman said.
The deceased soldiers were identified as Rifleman Kaisar Ahmad Shah from Jammu and Kashmir’s Anantnag district and Rifleman Jeevan Singh from Haryana’s Sirsa district. “The soldiers, despite being hit, responded and forced the terrorists to flee, before laying down their lives in this cowardly terrorist attack,” the Army said.
The spokesman said actions of these brave soldiers “prevented the terrorists from causing any further damage and demonstrated unwavering courage and commitment to safeguard the national security and counter inimical agenda of Pakistan-abetted terrorism in Kashmir”.
The Army identified the two slain porters as Zahoor Ahmad Mir, a resident of Boniyar, and Mushtaq Ahmad Choudhary, a resident of Uri, Baramulla. “It is evident that Pakistani terrorists are, deliberately and unregretfully, targeting Kashmiri locals to evoke fear and terror in the Valley, which is progressing towards peace and stability. The only ideology these terrorists espouse is of the reign of terror in Valley,” the Army said.
The Army is mulling to reorient its counter-insurgency operations in J&K after a series of attacks from “highly trained” militants this year, especially in the Jammu region.
“We took stock of the new challenges, the modus operandi of the terrorists, the support they are likely to be getting from across the border and we are making a strategy to tackle this,” Lieutenant-General M.V. Suchindra Kumar, General Officer, Commanding-in-Chief (GOC-in-C), Northern Command, said.
In Uri, the 24-year-old wife and three-year-old child of Choudhary were inconsolable. Choudhary, 27, had worked hard to get a porter’s job in order to earn a “decent living” four months ago. “His father is a cancer patient and requires ₹15,000-20,000 per month. What did the men who killed a poor labourer gain from the killing? Who will take care of the ailing father and the family?” one of Choudhary’s relatives said. The J&K government announced solatium of ₹6 lakh for the families of each of the victims.
J&K Lieutenant-Governor Manoj Sinha laid a wreath and paid homage to the deceased soldiers and the defence porters. “India will never forget their selfless service and supreme sacrifice. We stand in solidarity with the bereaved families,” Mr. Sinha said.
Kashmir has seen a series of attacks in the past one week, which has left 10 civilians and two soldiers dead.
National Conference president Farooq Abdullah targeted Pakistan for the uptick in militant attacks in Kashmir. “If they [Pakistan] think they can achieve anything with this, they are only destroying themselves and us. J&K will never be part of Pakistan. J&K chose India in 1947. Such actions are detrimental to all Muslims and the broader community in Kashmir,” Dr. Abdullah said.
He, however, called for “a peaceful resolution to prevent further harm to the region’s people and economy”. “Don’t they see the regions of Ukraine, Syria and Palestine? Violence has led to large-scale devastation. If attacks continue, we will continue to confront them. God willing, we will defeat them,” he added.
Published - October 25, 2024 09:42 am IST
