Terror Hits Poonch: IAF Convoy Attacked, One Dead, Four Wounded

In an audacious terrorist attack, one Indian Air Force (IAF) convoy was ambushed on the Sanai Top area in Surankote in the Poonch region of Jammu and Kashmir and one airman was killed, while four of them were wounded. The incident, which happened at about 6:15 PM, constitutes a serious hike in militant action in the region just weeks prior to the Lok Sabha elections.

The convoy was on its way from Jaran Wali Gali to Shahsitar Top when it was under heavy attack, according to the officials. Eyewitnesses and security sources indicate that an estimated 200 rounds were used by the attackers, who used the dense wooded area as cover and the declining light to carry out the ambush.

Corporal Vikky Pahade was killed in action, while four other IAF personnel were injured and evacuated for treatment immediately. The car was said to have been hit several times, showing a coordinated and planned attack. It is suspected that the terrorists carried AK-series rifles to carry out the attack.

In the early hours, Indian security personnel began a large-scale cordon-and-search operation. Rashtriya Rifles soldiers, local police, and Garud commandos have been deployed in a large radius to hunt down the attackers. Drones and sniffer dogs are also being employed to search through the thick forests in the area.

At least six locals have been detained for questioning by authorities on suspicion that logistical assistance might have been given to the attackers. Officials indicate the terrorists could have been in hiding in the area for days prior to the ambush.

Early intelligence reports have named three suspected individuals responsible for the attack: Illiyas, a retired Pakistani Army commando; Abu Hamza, a top Lashkar-e-Taiba commander; and another handler named Hadoon. The three are said to have infiltrated from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and are now suspected to be hiding in forested regions near the Line of Control.

The incident has raised alarm not just due to its immediate human toll but also on account of its timing. With the general elections looming, the attack was viewed as an effort to sabotage the democratic process and destabilize the area. The Election Commission and Ministry of Home Affairs are said to be reconsidering security arrangements in sensitive areas.

The attack also coincides with increasing tensions between India and Pakistan. Just days prior, Indian warplanes had struck suspected terror installations in Pakistan-administered Kashmir and Punjab, evoking sharp criticism from Islamabad. Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has authorized “corresponding action,” further escalating the diplomatic standoff.

Air Chief Marshal V.R. Chaudhari made an official visit to Jammu to honor the deceased corporal and ensured that the perpetrators of the attack would be held accountable. “We will not allow this sacrifice to be in vain,” he said.

While search operations are ongoing in Poonch, security forces are on high alert. The government has reaffirmed its resolve to fight terrorism and safeguard the integrity of the democratic process in Jammu and Kashmir.