A Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO) was among three soldiers martyred in a suicide attack by terrorists at an Army camp near the Line of Control (LOC) in Rajouri district of Jammu division on Thursday morning.

Two heavily armed terrorists dressed as soldiers were challenged by the Indian soldiers when they approached the army camp and tossed grenades at the troops to force their entry into the Army camp. The terrorists were gunned down after an intense exchange of fire 6 kms from the Darhal police station.

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Six soldiers were injured during exchange of fire and three of them succumbed, said the official spokesperson.

According to the official sources the suicide attack is engineered by the Pakistan sponsored terrorists. The attack has come three days before India’s Independence Day.

Giving details of the incident, the spokesman said, “In the early hours of 11 August 2022, alert sentries of the Indian Army post at Parghal, District Rajouri, (J&K) detected suspicious persons approaching their post taking advantage of the inclement weather and dense foliage. The sentries challenged the two terrorists who threw grenade while attempting to gain entry inside the post. However alert troops cordoned of the area and engaged them in a fire fight thereby pinning them. In the ensuing encounter, two terrorists were neutralised. Six soldiers of Indian Army were injured in the operation while three of these brave-hearts succumbed to their injuries”.

“The valiant soldiers made the supreme sacrifice upholding the highest tradition of the Indian Army”, said the spokesman.

The army identified the slain soldiers as; Subedar Rajendra Prasad, resident of Jhunjhunu (Rajasthan), Rifleman Lakshmanan D, resident of Madurai (Tamil Nadu) and Rifleman Manoj Kumar, resident of Faridabad (Haryana).

Issuing a statement Indian Army said that it “salute the brave hearts, for their supreme sacrifice in line of duty. The Nation will always remain indebted to them for the supreme sacrifice and devotion to duty”

Mukesh Singh, ADGP, Jammu Zone said; “As reported by 11  Raj Rifles, someone tried to cross the fence of Army camp at Pargal. Sentry challenged and exchange of fire  took place. Additional parties have been dispatched for the location which is around 6 kms from police station Darhal”.

Meanwhile, paying tributes to martyred soldiers, J&K Lt. Governor Manoj Sinha tweeted; “Strongly condemn despicable terrorist attack in Rajouri; tributes to brave soldiers who made supreme sacrifice. We shall deal with evil designs of terrorists and their backers in a befitting manner”.

National Conference leader Omar Abdullah in a statement said; “While condemning the attack I send my condolences to the families & my prayers for the swift recovery of those officers & jawans injured in the attack”.