At least 31 army men including the trio losing their lives during a routine operation in Poonch have been killed in Jammu Kashmir in the current year.
The data available with the news agency Kashmir News Trust reveals that 28 soldiers were killed and nine sustained injuries in 9 encounters in Jammu and Kashmir. This year, J&K witnessed many encounters, however in 9 encounters, out of which 6 raged in Jammu Division and 3 in Kashmir Valley, Army suffered casualties.
At least 21 soldiers were killed in Jammu Division mainly in Poonch and Rajouri districts while 7 soldiers lost their lives during three operations in Kashmir Valley.
Army suffered no casualties in March, June, July, and October. A soldier was killed in February, 5 each in April, May, November, and December while 4 soldiers were killed in September and 3 in August.
However, in January this year, a Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO) and two soldiers died after they slipped into a deep gorge in a forward area in Machil sector of north Kashmir’s Kupwara district during a routine operation.
In February, a soldier from Himachal Pradesh was killed in an encounter at Potgampora Awantipora in Pulwama district.
In April, 5 army personnel were killed and a soldier suffered injuries in a militant attack at the Bhatadhurian area of Mendhar Sub Division in Poonch district.
The non-local militants reportedly attacked an army vehicle with grenades using UBGL there.
In May, 5 soldiers were killed after militants triggered a blast during a cordon and search operation in the Kandi forest area of Rajouri district of Jammu region.
In August, 3 soldiers were killed in an encounter in the Halan forest area of South Kashmir’s Kulgam district.
A soldier and an army dog were killed in September in an encounter in Narla village of Rajouri. At least 3 Army personnel including a Colonel and a Major were killed in South Kashmir’s Gadole Kokarnag encounter.
in November, 5 soldiers including two captains were killed in the 30-hour-long encounter at Baji Maal forest area of Kalakote Rajouri.
In a recent attack in December, 5 army personnel lost their lives while two others sustained injuries after militants ambushed army vehicles, carrying operational teams, in the dense forest area on Thanamandi Surankote road in Poonch. [KNT]