Hilly Terrain, Local Help And Advanced Weapons: Here's All You Need To Know About Kathua Terror Attack

Terrorists attacked an army vehicle in the Billawar region of Jammu and Kashmir's Kathua district on Monday (8 July).

The vehicle carrying Army personnel was attacked by Pakistani terrorists with grenades, followed by firing.

The terrorists were equipped with sophisticated weapons, including M4 Carbine rifles and explosive devices.

The terrorists also conducted reconnaissance of the area, potentially aided by local supporters, suggesting a well-planned targeted attack.

Badnota village, where the incident occurred, lacks proper road connectivity, with vehicles moving at speeds no greater than 10-15 kilometers per hour.

The terrorists exploited the slow movement of the army vehicles, taking strategic positions atop hills.

"2-3 terrorists and 1-2 local guides had positioned themselves on the hills. They first lobbed grenades at the army vehicles and then fired, targeting the driver initially," sources were quoted as saying in an India Today report.

Initial investigations reveal that the terrorists had conducted a prior reconnaissance of the area.

A local guide allegedly assisted the terrorists, providing food, shelter, and helping them reach their hideouts post-attack.

A massive combing operation continued in Kathua on Tuesday to trace the attackers, who are believed to have fled to nearby forest areas.

The search operation faces significant challenges due to the hilly terrain, fog, and dense vegetation.

The attack occurred around 3:30 pm on the Machedi-Kindli-Malhar road near Badnota village in Lohai Malhar, around 150 km from Kathua town.

A Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO) was among the five personnel killed, and five other soldiers were injured and hospitalised.

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