5 Army personnel were killed when a group of heavily armed terrorists ambushed a patrol party on the rugged Machedi-Kindli-Malhar mountainous road near Badnota village in Lohai Malhar

The National Investigation Agency will assist the Jammu and Kashmir police in its probe into a terrorist attack on an Army convoy in Kathua that left five personnel dead and as many injured, officials said on Tuesday.

A team of National Investigation Agency (NIA) officials has been sent to Kathua in Jammu region to extend all possible support to the police in its investigation, they said and made it clear that the probe agency has not registered a case to investigate the terrorist attack.

Five Army personnel, including a junior commissioned officer, were killed, and as many were injured when a group of heavily armed terrorists ambushed a patrol party on the rugged Machedi-Kindli-Malhar mountainous road near Badnota village in Lohai Malhar, approximately 150 km from Kathua district headquarters.

It was the fifth terror attack in the Jammu region in a month.

A massive search operation was under way on Tuesday to track down the terrorists behind the attack. Jammu and Kashmir Police chief RR Swain flew to the area to oversee the operation on the ground as well.

The scope of the search operation has been expanded to encompass large areas in the adjoining districts of Udhampur and Kathua, including Basantgarh, Seoj (a high-altitude area in Udhampur), and the upper reaches of Bani, Daggar and Kindli in Kathua district.

Special forces of the Indian Army's 'Para' unit have been deployed to conduct surgical operations against the terrorists in specific areas, the officials said. 

Courtesy: The Tribune India: 9th July , 2024