3-4 terrorists attacked military convoy: J&K Police

As the second search operation began on Saturday to trace the terrorists behind the attack on military vehicles in Butapathri, the Jammu and Kashmir Police said three to four terrorists were involved in the attack on the military convoy.

In addition to the army and police, paramilitary forces are also involved in the search to track down terrorists. The force is using drones, quadcopters and human intelligence to track the attackers, and police have preliminary information about the attackers.

Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Baramulla, Zahid Mohammad, said the operation against the attackers resumed on Saturday morning. “Police, army and paramilitary forces are carrying out operations from Babareshi forest to other areas of Gulmarg,” he said, adding that evidence gathered indicates that three to four terrorists were involved in the Butapathri attack. “Prior to this attack, operations were launched in Pattan and Kreeri areas of Baramulla district,” he added.

On Thursday evening, a convoy carrying Rashtriya Rifles personnel and civilian porters was on its way to the Nagin outpost in the Afrawat training ground when terrorists opened fire on two army trucks in Botapathri, about 6 km from the tourist hub of Gulmarg. Two soldiers and two civilian porters were killed in the ambush.

The deceased were identified as gunner Jeevan Singh, gunner Kaisar Ahmad Shah and defense porters Mushtaq Ahmad Chowdary and Zahoor Ahmad Mir.

The People’s Antifascist Front, considered a front of the Jaish-e-Mohammed group, claimed responsibility for Thursday’s attack. The organization, which warned of further attacks, released a photo of a military vehicle that was targeted in Butapathri forests.

The army on Friday said Pakistani terrorists were behind the attack in Buthpathri in Ganderbal, in which two soldiers and two porters were killed.

The army says the terrorists also left behind weapons before fleeing. To disturb peace and stability in Kashmir, Pakistani terrorists attacked an army column in the Butapathri general area.

After the attack, security was alerted in north Kashmir, especially in areas where army convoys pass through late at night. Night domination operations were also undertaken in some areas of north Kashmir.