NIA team visits Poonch after deadly militant attack

POONCH — A day after five soldiers were killed and another injured in a militant attack, a team of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) visited the spot here on Friday.

According to the army, its vehicle caught fire while moving from Bhimber Gali to Sangiot in district Poonch after being ambushed by militants amid inclement weather in the area. Five soldiers had died on the spot while one more was injured who was under treatment. Soon after the incident, army and police personnel rushed to the spot. Visuals showed semi-burnt bodies of the soldiers lying on the road beside the burning truck.

Official sources told the news agency GNS that a team of NIA investigated the spot even as a massive cordon-and-search operation continues in the area to track down the “attackers”. They said the army has pressed drones and sniffer dogs to trace the attackers.

Meanwhile, at a wreath-laying function at Rajouri, the mortal remains of Lance Naik Debashish of Algum Sami village of Puri district of Odisha were airlifted to his native place for last rites.

The mortal remains of Havildar Mandeep Singh of Chankoian village of Ludhiana (Punjab), Lance Naik Kulwant Singh of Charik village of Moga district (Punjab), Sepoy Harkrishan Singh of village Talwandi of Gurdaspur district (Punjab) and Sepoy Sewak Singh of Bagha village of Bathinda district (Punjab) were being sent to their native places by road, they said.