SRINAGAR: In the quiet village of Nowshera, Baramulla, sorrow hangs heavy as the family of 27-year-old Mushtaq Ahmed Choudhary grapples with his tragic death. Mushtaq, a civilian porter for the Indian Army, was among those killed in a terrorist attack on an Army convoy in Butapathri, Gulmarg, late on Thursday.
As the family’s primary breadwinner, Mushtaq was known throughout the village for his dedication and hard work. According to a relative, “His sudden loss has left his loved ones in shock, struggling to imagine life without him.”
The attack, which occurred near the Line of Control (LoC) at Nagin Dhok, targeted a convoy of the 18 Rashtriya Rifles, resulting in the deaths of two soldiers and two civilian porters, including Mushtaq. Villagers remember him as a devoted son and a kind-hearted young man. The family, stricken with grief, finds it hard to believe he is gone.
After the Thursday evening ambush, the Army swiftly launched a large-scale counter-insurgency operation, deploying senior officers and additional forces into the rugged area. Army helicopters patrolled the skies early on Friday morning, as the search for those responsible intensified.
According to security sources, the proximity of the attack to the LoC raises suspicions of an infiltration attempt. Injured soldiers were quickly transported to a nearby hospital for treatment, while the Army and Jammu and Kashmir Police remain on high alert.
Lt Governor Manoj Sinha extended his condolences to the bereaved families, assuring them that the sacrifices made by the victims would be honoured. “We will respond strongly to the attackers,” he vowed, underscoring the need to reinforce security along Jammu and Kashmir’s sensitive border areas.
In response to the attack that claimed the lives of two soldiers and two civilian porters in Butapathri, Baramulla, near the Line of Control (LoC), a large-scale counter-insurgency operation is underway, closely overseen by senior Army officers.
The Army, however, has yet to officially confirm the casualties resulting from this attack.
The incident occurred late on Thursday evening near the LoC at Nagin Dhok, where a convoy of the Rashtriya Rifles reportedly came under heavy fire from concealed terrorists, leading to fatalities and injuries among the soldiers.
The Army initiated a massive search operation following the Thursday evening attack, continuing the effort throughout the night, under the leadership of senior Army officers in the area.
“Early on Friday morning, Army helicopters were visible over Butapathri as the search operation intensified, with additional Army personnel deployed in the area,” local news gatherer KINS reported.
Security forces scoured the rugged terrain, suspecting a possible infiltration attempt due to the area’s proximity to the LoC.
The injured personnel were promptly evacuated to a nearby hospital for treatment.
In a social media statement, the Chinar Corps of the Indian Army acknowledged the incident, stating, “Exchange of fire. A brief firefight took place between #IndianArmy and terrorists in the general area of Butapathri, #Baramulla. Details are being ascertained.”
