The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has stepped in to support the Jammu and Kashmir Police in investigating a tragic terrorist attack on an Army convoy in Kathua, which resulted in the deaths of five personnel and left as many injured. The incident occurred on the rugged Machedi-Kindli-Malhar mountainous road near Badnota village in Lohai Malhar, approximately 150 km from Kathua district headquarters.
A team of NIA officials has been dispatched to Kathua to provide comprehensive assistance to the ongoing police investigation, although the agency has clarified that it has not yet registered a separate case for investigation.
This attack marks the fifth such incident in the Jammu region within a month, underscoring heightened security concerns in the area. In response, a massive search operation has been launched to track down the perpetrators behind the ambush. Jammu and Kashmir Police Chief R R Swain personally flew to the site to oversee operations on the ground.
The search operation has now expanded across extensive areas in adjoining districts, including Udhampur and Kathua, covering Basantgarh, Seoj, and the upper reaches of Bani, Daggar, and Kindli. Special forces from the Indian Army’s elite ‘Para’ unit have been mobilized to conduct surgical operations against the terrorists in targeted zones.
President Droupadi Murmu condemned the attack as a “cowardly act” deserving strong condemnation and emphasized the need for resolute counter-measures.
Authorities continue to intensify efforts to apprehend the assailants and restore stability in the region amidst heightened security measures and ongoing investigations.