Jammu, May 6 : Army has claimed to have neutralized one militant in the ongoing massive operation in Kandi forest area of Rajouri district. Meanwhile Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha laid wreaths of the bodies of five soldiers who were killed in the blast triggered by the militants in the woods on Friday, officials said. “In the ongoing joint operation with @JmuKmrPolice & CRPF, at approx 0700 hours the cordon while closing in spotted & pinned down the (militants),” army said in a tweet, adding, “In the ensuing gunbattle one (militant) has been neutralised & 1 more is likely to be injured.” Army said that arms and ammunition including one AK 56, four Magazines, 56 rounds, 1×9 mm pistol and 3 grenades and one ammunition Pouch has been recovered so far. “Identity and affiliation of militant is being ascertained. Operation underway,” he said. Meanwhile, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha paid tributes to the soldiers killed in the blast and laid floral wreaths on their bodies. Yesterday, five soldiers were killed and an officer was injured in a blast triggered by the militants. Army later issued a statement in which it said: “On specific information about presence of (militants) in the Kandi forest in Rojauri Sector, a joint operation was launched on 03 May 2023. At about 0730 hours on 05 May 2023, a search team established contact with a group of militants well entrenched in a cave. The area is thickly vegetated with rocky and steep cliffs.” The militants, the army said, triggered an explosive device in retaliation. The Army team suffered two fatal casualties and injuries to four more soldiers including an officer. “The injured personnel were evacuated to Command Hospital, Udhampur.” Three among them succumbed to wounds later.
