The Indian Army successfully repulsed a major attack early this morning in Jammu and Kashmir’s Rajouri district. Reportedly, a soldier sustained injuries during the predawn assault on an army camp. Following the attack, security forces launched a comprehensive search operation to locate and neutralize the terrorists involved.
This incident occurs amidst a surge of terror attacks in the Jammu region, escalating security concerns. The attack came less than 24 hours after Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi’s visit to Jammu, where he discussed strategies to address the recent rise in terrorist activities in a region that had been relatively free of such violence until a few years ago.
A heavily armed group of terrorists targeted the army camp and also attacked the residence of Shaurya Chakra Awardee Parshotam Kumar in Gunda village. Kumar, a village Defense Guard recognized for his bravery in neutralizing two terrorists last August, was recently awarded the Shaurya Chakra by President Droupadi Murmu.
Another assault
Despite a robust counterattack by the army forcing the terrorists to flee, this marks yet another bold assault on military positions in the area. On Friday, a temporary army camp set up in a school in Doda district was hit with heavy gunfire and grenades. Last week, four soldiers, including a captain, were killed in the same area, following an earlier ambush in Kathua that resulted in the deaths of five soldiers.
In response to the escalating threat, the Army has deployed additional troops, including special forces commandos, to the Jammu region to combat the terrorists. Over the past 32 months, 48 army soldiers have been killed in terrorist attacks in Jammu, with terrorists frequently escaping without casualties.
The increase in attacks has prompted a recent cabinet committee meeting chaired by the Prime Minister, who has directed the army to utilize the full spectrum of its anti-terrorism capabilities to eliminate the threat from the region. Despite extensive cordon and search operations by security forces, the frequency of these attacks continues to challenge the region’s stability.