Two soldiers martyred in ongoing counter-terrorist operation in Poonch

The exchange of fire between the two sides erupted in Bimber Gali village of Mendhar tehsil in Poonch. The area lies in forest areas between Poonch and Rajouri.

 

Encounter just came four days after five soldiers were killed in action in the same area. Earlier, on October 12, five army personnel, including a Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO), were killed in an encounter in Dera Ki Gali (DKG) in the Surankote area of Poonch district.

 

According to a defence spokesperson, the JCO and a jawan were critically injured during the operation in the Nar Khas forest area on Thursday evening. Both of them succumbed to their injuries subsequently.

 

 

Lt Colonel Devender Anand, defence ministry spokesman said, “A counter-terrorist operation by the army is in progress in the area of Nar Khas Forest in Mendhar, District Poonch since the evening of October 14. During the operation, there was heavy exchange of fire and in the ensuing gunfight Rifleman Vikram Singh Negi and Rifleman Yogambar Singh were critically injured and later succumbed to their injuries."

 

 

He added, "Rifleman Vikram Singh Negi and Rifleman Yogambar Singh displayed exemplary courage, devotion and made the supreme sacrifice in the line of duty. The nation will always remain indebted to these Bravehearts for their supreme sacrifice for the nation."

Both riflemen Vikram Singh Negi (26) and Yogambar Singh (27) were from Uttarakhand and were injured on Thursday along the Line of Control during a counter-terrorist operation.

 

 

The counter-terrorist operation is still underway. The spokesperson said the terrorists are likely to be part of the same group that killed five soldiers, including a JCO, in Poonch’s Chamrer forest. The Indian Army troops along with CRPF, Special Operation Group (SOG) of Jammu and Kashmir Police launched a search operation in the dense forest.
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