Ahead of LS polls, 1 IAF soldier killed, four injured in Poonch terror attack

One soldier was killed and four were injured as terrorists ambushed an Indian Air Force (IAF) convoy in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch district on Saturday, three weeks ahead of polling in Anantnag-Rajouri Lok Sabha constituency.

Poonch is part of Anantnag Rajouri parliamentary constituency which goes to polls in the sixth phase on May 25.

Officials said five security personnel were injured, two of them critically, when four terrorists opened fire on IAF vehicles moving towards Sanai Top in Poonch’s Surankot area in the evening. One of the critically injured soldiers later succumbed at a military hospital during treatment, they said.

“An Indian Air Force vehicle convoy was attacked by militants in the Poonch district of J-K, near Shahsitar. Cordon and search operations are underway presently in the area by local military units.

“The convoy has been secured, and further investigation is under progress,” the IAF said in a post on X.

“In the ensuing gunfight with terrorists, the Air Warriors fought back by returning fire. In the process, five IAF personnel received bullet injuries, and were evacuated to the nearest military hospital for immediate medical attention. One Air Warrior succumbed to his injuries later. Further operations are on by the local security forces,” it said in another post.