Resurgent militants attack army convoy in Kashmir, kill 2 jawans

Abhishek Behl and Aijaz Qazmi


Poonch, July 17—Substantiating the reports coming from different quarter that militants were trying to regroup in District Poonch, a group of militants today attacked an army convoy near totewali gali while it was on its way to Poonch killing 2 army jawans and injuring eight others sitting in a bus in the rear of the convoy.
Following the attack a fierce encounter ensued between the militants and the security men in which six sepoys including two Naiks were injured.
According to reports, the convoy had started at 1:30 in the afternoon from Biji and around 3 pm it was attacked somewhere between totewali gali and Bhatta Durian, on Surankote Rajauri road.
A militant, who was hiding alongside the road suddenly came in front of the convoy and fired indiscriminately in which army gunner Hare Krishna of 25 RR died on the spot, while critically injuring driver S Basant, who also succumbed to his injuries.
During the ensuing encounter which lasted for over an hour, eight army men were injured which included Naik Mohan of 25 RR, Sepoy Kali Subhash and Sepoy JK Bamari of 25 RR, Naik Khammiah and naik Govind of 40 RR, Clerk Braham Dutt of 169 Military Hospital, JCO Ashok Singh and Havaldar Ashok Joshi of 16 RR.
The militant attack comes in the wake of repeated reports that militants are trying to regroup and increase their activities in district Poonch and adjoining Mendhar which lies along the line of control.
Despite reports coming from different quarters that militancy was likely to be boosted in the area, the government and various security agencies have remained in a mode of denial over the heighten terror activities.
During the past few months, terrorists have managed to hit important targets in the state, particularly the attack on Dy Sp Yougal Manhas and killing of Dy SP Shally and this should have ringed the warning bells for the authorities.

Reports of militants trying to re-establish their network has been doing the round for the past several months and according to the local grapevine recruitment and indoctrination of local youth is on the prime agenda of different groups operating the area.
Security forces and government authorities have however denied the movement of terrorists despite acts of high profile violence. Sources said that if proper action was not taken to neutralize these groups than the situation could turn bad.