Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi: Following the tragic loss of five soldiers in a terror attack in Kathua, Jammu and Kashmir, Defence Secretary Giridhar Aramane has vowed that their deaths will not go unavenged. Expressing profound grief and extending condolences to the families of the fallen soldiers, Aramane stated, “I express profound grief on the loss of five Bravehearts in a terrorist attack in Badnota, Kathua, and extend deepest condolences to the bereaved families. Their selfless service to the nation will always be remembered, and their sacrifice will not go unavenged. India will defeat the evil forces behind the attack.”
The Defence Ministry shared Aramane’s remarks on social media platform X, sending a strong message of resilience and determination.
The attack, which occurred in Kathua’s remote Machedi area, resulted in the deaths of five Army personnel, including a Junior Commissioned Officer. Five others were injured when terrorists ambushed their patrol party, launching grenades and gunfire at an Army truck yesterday afternoon. The assailants fled into the forest, prompting a large-scale search operation to track them down.
The Kashmir Tigers, a shadow outfit of the banned Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM), claimed responsibility for the ambush. This incident marked the second attack on the Army within two days, amid a recent surge in terror activities in the Union Territory.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also expressed his deep anguish over the deaths, saying, “I am deeply anguished at the loss of five of our brave Indian Army Soldiers in a terrorist attack in Badnota, Kathua (J&K). My deepest condolences to the bereaved families. The Nation stands firm with them in this difficult time. The Counter Terrorist operations are underway, and our soldiers are determined to usher in peace and order in the region. I pray for a speedy recovery to those who sustained injuries in this dastardly terror attack,” he said in a post on X.
The search for the terrorists continues, with joint efforts from the Indian Army, Jammu and Kashmir Police, and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF). Elite para-commandos, along with sniffer dogs, drones, and helicopters, have been deployed to aid in the operation.
