SRINAGAR: The politicians and political parties of Jammu and Kashmir cutting across the divide extended condolences over the death of five army soldiers in a militant attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch district.
Expressing his anguish over the incident, Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Thursday said, “I am deeply anguished by the loss of lives of brave Army personnel in a tragic incident at Poonch. Their rich service to the nation will never be forgotten. My thoughts are with the bereaved families,” he said on Twitter.
Former JK chief minister Omar Abdullah extended his heartfelt condolences to the breaved families and said the heinous act should be unequivocally condemned.
Omar took to his Twitter handle to condemn the militant attack on the army vehicle in Poonch.
“Terrible news of a terror attack in Poonch that claimed the lives of five army jawans in the line of duty. I unequivocally condemn this heinous attack & send my condolences to the loved ones of those killed today. May the souls of the departed rest in peace,” Omar wrote on Twitter.
Condemning the attack PDP President Mehbooba Mufti wrote on her twitter, “Strongly condemn the heinous attack in Poonch. My deepest condolences to the families of the army jawans who were killed.”
Apni Party president Syed Altaf Bukhari described the attack as act of cowardice and expressed his condolences with the families of the slain soldiers.
“Deeply saddened by the cowardly terrorist attack in Poonch that claimed lives of five soldiers. My heartfelt condolences to the families of the brave hearts who made the ultimate sacrifice for the nation. We stand with our armed forces and their families in this difficult time,” wrote Bukhari on Twitter.
Peoples Conference chairman Sajad Lone while condemning the Poonch terrorist attack that left five soldiers dead said that the “scourge of violence and terror tragically perseveres and refuses to go”.
“Terrible and tragic news of the attack on an army vehicle and five fatalities. Strongly condemn this dastardly act of terror by cowards. The scourge of violence and terror tragically perseveres and refuses to go,” Lone wrote on his Twitter.
In a statement, the army’s Northern Command said that an army vehicle moving between Bhimber Gali and Poonch in the Rajauri sector was fired on by unidentified terrorists at about 3 pm and caught fire due to likely use of grenades by militants.
“Five personnel of the Rashtriya Rifles Unit deployed for Counter Terrorist operations, in this area, have unfortunately lost their lives in the incident,” it added.
Another soldier, who sustained serious injuries, was evacuated immediately and rushed to the Army Hospital at Rajouri. He is currently under treatment.
