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A deadly terrorist ambush in the Baramulla district of north Kashmir has prompted a massive search operation by security forces. On Thursday evening, a military truck carrying soldiers and civilian porters was attacked near Botapathri, resulting in the tragic deaths of two soldiers from the 18 Rashtriya Rifles and two civilian porters. The terrorists, believed to be three to four in number and heavily armed, remain at large. The search operation, led by Baramulla SSP Zaid Mohammed, has expanded to include dense forests, stretching from Baba Reshi to Gulmarg and encompassing adjacent areas. Security forces have also initiated input-based searches in Pattan and Kreeri.
The ambush occurred between two security checkpoints, approximately 5 kilometers from the Line of Control (LoC) and 11 kilometers from Gulmarg. The area, situated in the upper reaches of Gulmarg, is renowned for its picturesque meadows and valleys surrounded by snow-capped mountains, attracting tourists and nature enthusiasts. However, the attack highlights the ongoing security challenges in the region. The ambush is part of a recent surge in terrorist activity in Kashmir. Earlier on the same day, a barber from Uttar Pradesh was injured in an attack in Pulwama. On October 20, seven employees of a tunnel-construction company lost their lives in Gagangir village, Ganderbal district. Furthermore, on October 18, a migrant worker from Bihar was abducted and murdered in Shopian district.
The Pakistan-backed People's Anti-Fascistic Front (PAFF), a splinter group of the banned terrorist organization Jaish-e-Mohammad, has claimed responsibility for the Baramulla ambush. This attack, along with other recent incidents, has brought the total number of security force fatalities in Jammu and Kashmir to 24 since May 4, with 18 deaths in the Jammu region and six in Kashmir. During this period, security forces have killed at least 20 terrorists. Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha has vowed strong retaliation against cross-border terrorism, holding Pakistan accountable for supporting terrorist activities in the region. He pledged that the forces will avenge the loss of innocent lives in Kashmir and announced a new security strategy to counter the escalating threats.