On 26 Feb, 2025, in a cowardly attempt to disrupt the peace in Jammu and Kashmir, terrorists opened fire on an army vehicle near the Line of Control (LoC) in the Rajouri district on Wednesday. The swift response of the brave security forces led to a counter-offensive, and a massive search operation is currently underway to neutralize the perpetrators.
The incident occurred near Phal village in the Sunderbani sector, a known infiltration route for terrorists. According to officials, there were no casualties in the brief exchange of fire. “The terrorists, believed to be hiding in a forest, fired a few rounds at the army vehicle passing through the area,” officials stated, adding that troops immediately returned fire, and reinforcements were rushed to the scene.
This attack follows a series of recent security threats in the Jammu region, which security forces are actively addressing. These incidents include an IED blast near the LoC in Akhnoor on February 11 that tragically killed two soldiers, an attack on a military patrol in the Keri sector on February 8 and suspicious movement along the LoC in Sunderbani on February 19.
In another development, army soldiers opened fire after observing suspicious movement near the LoC in the Keeri Battal area of the Akhnoor sector during the intervening night of Tuesday and Wednesday.
These actions by terror outfits are seen as desperate attempts to malign the peaceful atmosphere in the Jammu valley, especially after security forces have successfully swept the Kashmir Valley from terrorism. The security forces remain vigilant and committed to ensuring the safety and security of the region.
Despite these provocations, efforts to maintain peace continue. Just last week, representatives of the Indian and Pakistani Armies reaffirmed their commitment to the February 2021 ceasefire agreement and discussed measures to prevent future misunderstandings. A flag meeting was held in the Poonch district, where brigade commanders from both countries agreed to uphold the ceasefire.
To tighten the noose around terrorists, security forces have launched extensive search operations throughout the Jammu region. General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the White Knight Corps, Lt Gen Navin Sachdeva, chaired a joint security review meeting, emphasizing the importance of maintaining peace in the province. “Searches will continue until the Jammu region is sanitized and made terror-free,” officials affirmed.
The security forces are on high alert, recognizing that infiltration attempts often increase as melting snow in mountainous regions facilitates movement for terrorists. Top military and security officers, including Lt Gen MV Suchindra Kumar and Lt Gen Navin Sachdeva, have been actively reviewing operational readiness in Jammu, Rajouri and Reasi sectors.
The Indian Army, police and CRPF have launched a coordinated search operation in the forested area to track down the terrorists, with additional reinforcements deployed. The nation stands united in its resolve to combat terrorism and maintain peace and stability in Jammu and Kashmir.
