The ambush on the Army convoy in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kathua on Monday killed five personnel and injured five others. In a strong response to the attack, Defence Secretary Giridhar Aramane said the sacrifice of the soldiers “will not go unavenged”.
Sending out a firm message in the aftermath of the attack, the Defence Secretary said, “I express profound grief on the loss of five Bravehearts in a terrorist attack in Badnota, Kathua, and extend deepest condolences to the bereaved families. Their selfless service to the nation will always be remembered & their sacrifice will not go unavenged and India will defeat the evil forces behind the attack.”
The remarks were also shared by the Defence Ministry spokesperson, A Bharat Bhushan Babu in a post on X.
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Five Army personnel, including a Junior Commissioned Officer, were killed, and as many were injured yesterday when terrorists ambushed a patrol party in Kathua’s remote Machedi area.
The Army truck was attacked by a grenade and gunfire. The terrorists fled into the forest after the ambush. A search operation in underway to track them down the militants.
Kashmir Tigers, a shadow outfit of the banned Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM), has claimed responsibility for the attack.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has said he is “deeply anguised” by the solders’ deaths yesterday.
“I am deeply anguished at the loss of five of our brave Indian Army Soldiers in a terrorist attack in Badnota, Kathua (J&K). My deepest condolences to the bereaved families, the Nation stands firm with them in this difficult time. The Counter Terrorist operations are underway, and our soldiers are determined to usher in peace and order in the region. I pray for a speedy recovery to those who sustained injuries in this dastardly terror attack,” he said in a post on X.