In the hilly terrain of Badnota in the Kathua district, a fierce encounter unfolded as injured army personnel valiantly combated terrorists. In a desperate bid to protect their wounded comrades, security forces expended approximately 6,000 rounds, effectively compelling the terrorists to withdraw from the area.

Regarding the evidence collected at the scene, an officer noted, "his team is investigating the evidence present at the spot, blood-stained helmets, bullet shells and vehicles with broken windscreens and punctured tyres." The initial investigation indicates that the assailants, organized in groups of three, launched their offensive from two distinct locations.

In a robust response to the aggression, the Indian Army has launched a search operation across Badnota in Billawar, district Kathua. This operation aims to honor the memory of five soldiers who paid the ultimate price. Significant security and intelligence figures, including Jammu and Kashmir DGP RR Swain and the Punjab DGP, convened on Thursday at the District Police Line Kathua to strategize further.

Following the tragic ambush on a military patrol comprising two trucks, which resulted in casualties among the 22 Garhwal Rifles — five killed and five wounded — authorities have detained at least 26 locals from the Machedi-Billawer area for interrogation, suspecting their involvement in the incident.

Additionally, "An NIA team has reached the ambush site and is assisting police in the probe. Army, J&K police, and CRPF personnel are scouring the region’s rugged terrain and forests to capture the terrorists, but no one has been captured or killed yet," reported an official. Complicating the search efforts, heavy rainfall has hindered aerial surveillance, making it difficult to deploy drones and helicopters effectively.

Officials have started reconstructing the events of the harrowing ambush near Badnota village, where soldiers faced over two hours of unrelenting gunfire before backup forces could reach them. The assailants, believed to be a trio, strategically positioned themselves in two locations on a hill, using the dense foliage as cover. They launched their surprise attack with grenades and gunfire as the military trucks approached a bend on the Machedi-Kindli-Malhar road at around 3:30 pm.

In a valiant effort to mitigate further loss and prevent the terrorists from commandeering their arms, the soldiers engaged in a heavy exchange of fire.

“The Garhwal regiment soldiers of the Indian Army unleashed a barrage of 5,189 rounds on the terrorists, forcing them to flee the scene,” an official reported to PTI.

The attack has been claimed by Kashmir Tigers, which is considered a shadow group of the Pakistan-backed terrorist organization Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM).

Further investigations have led to rigorous questioning of the local population. Sources indicate that inquiries are focused on whether any residents had seen the terrorists prior to the attack or had provided them with any form of support. Authorities have sternly cautioned the locals against aiding the terrorists in any way, including providing shelter, food, or assistance in navigating the area without detection.

The recent surge in terrorism-related violence in Jammu has alarmed locals in the higher regions, prompting calls for the reinforcement of village defense groups to better counter terrorist threats.

In the Doda district, a new search operation has unfolded following a confrontation between security forces and terrorists in the Goli Ghadi-Bhagwah forest on Tuesday evening. The terrorists managed to escape, utilizing the cover of the dense forest and the onset of dusk to their advantage.

Sources indicate that a key meeting is being convened to enhance coordination among various agencies. “There will be a discussion in Kathua today on preventing terrorist attacks and the security of the Amarnath Yatra. After this meeting, a report will be sent to the Home and Defense Ministries.”

Meanwhile, the police have taken decisive action, detaining 23 suspects, including the tractor driver, for further interrogation. Army para commandos have been deployed into the forest to conduct a surgical operation. The operations are being supported with the aid of helicopters and drones, intensifying the search and capture efforts against the fugitive terrorists.

Earlier on Wednesday, Lieutenant General Manoj Kumar Khatyar of the Western Command visited Machedi to assess the site of the recent attack and the ongoing operations. Security forces ramped up their efforts with a comprehensive search operation on the third day, determined to neutralize the terrorist threat despite adverse weather conditions and challenging terrain.

Senior officials have confirmed that extensive searches are being conducted not only in the forests bordering Kathua but also across the adjacent districts of Udhampur and Doda. "Senior army officers are constantly monitoring," according to sources, reflecting the high level of engagement and oversight involved in these operations.

Further insights reveal that the tractor-trolley driver, who was leading the army convoy during the ambush, was also interrogated on Wednesday. This is part of a broader effort to piece together the events leading up to the attack and identify any potential lapses or accomplices.

The severity of the situation was underscored by a recent grenade attack by terrorists in Badnota, which led to "indiscriminate firing" resulting in the tragic loss of five army soldiers. In response to this and a subsequent encounter in Doda, searches continued for a second day in the dense forests, indicating the extensive and ongoing nature of the military's efforts to secure the area and prevent further incidents.

Silence and Shock in Uttarakhand Village That Lost 5 Bravehearts in Kathua Terror Attack

In the wake of a devastating terrorist attack on an Indian Army convoy in Kathua district of Jammu and Kashmir, a profound sense of sorrow has descended upon Uttarakhand. The state mourns the loss of five soldiers, all natives of Uttarakhand, who bravely laid down their lives during the assault.

The fallen heroes, members of the esteemed Garhwal Rifles regiment, are identified as Naib Subedar Anand Singh Rawat, 41, from Rudraprayag; Rifleman Anuj Negi, 25, and Havildar Kamal Singh Rawat, 28, from Pauri Garhwal district; along with Rifleman Adarsh Negi, 26, and Naik Vinod Singh Bhandari, 33, from Tehri Garhwal district. Their mortal remains were respectfully received on Tuesday evening at Dehradun's Jolly Grant Airport. A solemn wreath-laying ceremony was conducted, honoring them with traditional military honours in the presence of dignitaries including Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, Haridwar MP and former CM Trivendra Singh Rawat, cabinet ministers Ganesh Joshi and Premchandra Agrawal, and Major General R Prem Raj, General Officer Commanding (GOC) of Uttarakhand sub-area. State DGP Abhinav Kumar and other senior Army officers also attended the ceremony.

During the tribute, Chief Minister Dhami condemned the attack, stating, "It was a cowardly act. The entire nation and the state stand in solidarity with the grieving families. Their supreme sacrifice won't go to waste. Those involved in this dastardly act will not be spared, nor those who provided shelter to the terrorists. The govt will provide every possible support to the families of the fallen heroes."

Lt Col Manish Shrivastava, public relations officer, defense (Dehradun), provided updates on the repatriation and final rites of the soldiers who tragically lost their lives in the Kathua terror attack. He shared that the remains of Naik Vinod Singh Bhandari were returned to his family, who conducted his last rites in Dehradun. "Of the five soldiers who died, the mortal remains of Naik Bhandari were handed over to his family members, who performed his last rites in Dehradun," he stated.

Further arrangements were made for the soldiers from Pauri Garhwal. "The bodies of the two soldiers from Pauri Garhwal were airlifted to Kotdwar city in a chopper and will be transported to their native villages by road for the final rites," Lt Col Shrivastava explained. This ensured that the soldiers could be laid to rest near their homes, amidst their communities.

The process for the remaining soldiers was slightly delayed due to weather conditions. Lt Col Shrivastava noted, "Due to unfavourable weather conditions on Tuesday, the bodies of the two soldiers from Tehri Garhwal will be airlifted to Srinagar in Pauri Garhwal on Wednesday morning. From there, they will be taken to their respective villages by road for cremation with full military honours."