KATHUA: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Tuesday visited the Kathua terror ambush site in Jammu and Kashmir where five Army personnel, including a junior commissioned officer, lost their lives on Monday. NIA’s Jammu and Kashmir-based unit reached the spot to assist the police in the investigation of the tragic terror case. A terrorist ambush on a routine patrol vehicle in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kathua district resulted in the tragic loss of five Army personnel, including a junior commissioned officer, on Monday. Five other soldiers were injured in the attack, which occurred near Badnota village in Kathua. The attack occurred on the Machedi-KindliMalhar road in a remote area, approximately 150 km from Kathua town, at around 3.30 pm on Monday. Elite para commandos have been deployed on the ground, engaging in intermittent exchanges of fire as the operation continues. Notably, this incident coincided with the 8th death anniversary of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani, adding a sombre context to the situation. The attack is believed to be the latest in a series of terrorist incidents in the region, which have been attributed to attempts by Pakistan to disrupt the peaceful atmosphere in Jammu and Kashmir. The region where the ambush took place is part of the old infiltration route along the international border, which the attackers appear to have reactivated. The area is primarily monitored by the BSF and falls under the jurisdiction of the 9 Corps of the Army, under the Western Command. The army personnel who lost their lives in the attack belonged to Uttarakhand. They are Rifleman Anuj Negi from Pauri, Nayab Subedar Anand Singh Rawat from Rudraprayag, Naik Vinod Singh from Tehri, Kamal Singh from Pauri and Adarsh Negi from Tehri. The attack took place when a group of heavily armed terrorists ambushed the patrolling party of the Army in the Badnota area in Kathua. A massive search operation is underway to nab the terrorists behind the ambush in which five people were also injured. The incident has sparked widespread condemnation and outrage, with many calling for increased security measures to prevent such attacks. The Army has launched a search operation in the area to track down the terrorists responsible for the attack. This incident comes on the heels of several other terrorist attacks in Jammu and Kashmir, including a recent attack in Reasi area on a bus carrying pilgrims to the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine on June 9, which left nine people dead and 33 injured. The NIA has been investigating these incidents and has identified several suspects. The region has seen a surge in terrorist activity in recent months, with several attacks on security forces and civilians. The NIA team is currently investigating the scene of the attack and gathering evidence. The agency is working closely with the Army and local police to identify the terrorists responsible for the attack and to prevent further incidents.
