Five soldiers were killed and one injured in an explosion triggered by terrorists during a gunfight in the Kandi area of Rajouri along the Line of Control (LOC) on Friday. The terrorists were involved in the recent killing of five soldiers in an ambush in Poonch, said an Army spokesman.

The spokesman said that two soldiers died on the stop, while four others who were critically injured in the explosion in the morning during an ongoing ‘Operation Trinetra’ to track down the terrorists. The injured, including an officer, were flown to the Udhampur-based command hospital, where three of them succumbed to their injuries in the afternoon taking the death toll to five.

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He said there was a likelihood of casualties on the terrorists’ side too as they were trapped in the area.

J&K DGP Dilbag Singh, ADGP Jammu Range Mukesh Singh and top brass of the Army have reached the encounter spot to supervise the operation against the terrorists.

The DGP said that the terrain was very difficult at the site of the encounter.

Meanwhile, mobile internet services have been snapped in Rajouri as a precautionary measure. The police blocked the road leading to the encounter spot to prevent civilians from proceeding there.

In a statement given in the morning, the Northern Command said, “Indian Army columns have been conducting relentless intelligence-based operations to flush out a group of terrorists involved in an ambush on an army truck in Tota Gali area of Bhata Dhurian in Jammu region”.

“On specific information about the presence of terrorists in the Kandi Forest in Rajauri Sector, a joint operation was launched on 3 May. At about 07:30 am on 5 May, a search team established contact with a group of terrorists well entrenched in a cave in an area thickly vegetated with rocky and steep cliffs. During the encounter with the security forces, the terrorists triggered an explosive device in which the Army team suffered two fatalities on the spot and injuries to four more soldiers including an officer.”

“Additional teams from the vicinity have been directed to the site of the encounter. The injured personnel have been evacuated to Command Hospital, Udhampur”.

“As per initial reports, a group of terrorists are trapped in the area. There is a likelihood of casualties in terrorist group. The operation is in progress. Further details are being ascertained”, the statement added.

In her reaction to the loss of lives of soldiers, former chief minister and PDP leader Mehbooba Mufti tweeted; “Terrible news coming in. My deepest condolences to the families of those who died in the line of duty”.

National Conference leader Omar Abdullah said; “Terror is a scourge that has blighted numerous lives over the decades in J&K & deserves unreserved condemnation. I send my sincere condolences to the families of those we lost today”.

Apni Party chief Altaf Bukhari said; “Their sacrifice for the safety of our nation will never be forgotten.”

Peoples Conference chief Sajad Lone said; “These are senseless acts of violence perpetuated by lunatics. And they will inshallah rot in hell”.

BJP leader Devender Singh Rana said; “Our respectful homage to the martyrs who laid down their precious lives in the service of the Nation”.