Srinagar: Two army soldiers were killed while four personnel including an officer were injured after militants triggered an explosive during the ongoing encounter in Kandi area of Rajouri district on Friday, Army said.
In a statement, issued to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), a defence spokesperson said that Army columns have been conducting relentless intelligence based operations to flush out a group of militants involved in ambush on an army truck in Tota Gali area of Bhata Dhurian in Jammu region.
The statement reads that on specific information about presence of militants in the Kandi Forest in Rajauri Sector, a joint operation was launched on 03 May 2023.
“At about 0730 hours today, a search team established contact with a group of militants well entrenched in a cave. The area is thickly vegetated with rocky and steep cliffs,” it reads.
Army said that the militants triggered an explosive device in retaliation. “The Army team has suffered two fatal casualties with injuries to four more soldiers including an officer.”
As per the statement that additional teams from the vicinity have been directed to the site of encounter. “The injured personnel have been evacuated to Command Hospital, Udhampur.”
It added as per initial reports a group of militants are trapped in the area. “There is a likelihood of casualties in the militant group.”
Army said that the operation is in progress and further details are being ascertained—(KNO)