Srinagar: At least four individuals, including two soldiers, lost their lives during a militant ambush on an army vehicle in India’s troubled Kashmir region on Thursday night, officials reported. This incident marks the second attack in the area within the same week, raising concerns about escalating violence.
The attacks occur in the wake of a government formed by an opposition alliance taking control in a territory long affected by separatist militancy, where thousands have died in clashes between militants and security forces. Earlier in July, at least nine soldiers were killed in two separate attacks in the region.
The ambush took place in the Bota Pathri (Butapathri) area, situated near the border with Pakistan. In addition to the two soldiers killed, two army porters also lost their lives, and three soldiers sustained injuries. “A massive search operation has been launched against the militants responsible for the attack… Additional reinforcements have been sent to the area,” stated an army official who chose to remain anonymous.
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This week, another attack claimed the lives of six migrant workers and a doctor when militants opened fire near a tunnel construction site in Kashmir. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah expressed his concern regarding the “recent spate of attacks” in the region via a post on X, calling it “a matter of serious concern.”
Kashmir remains a contested region, claimed in full but administered in part by both India and Pakistan. The revocation of its special status in 2019 led to the region being divided into two federally administered territories—Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh—resulting in a downgrade of relations between the two countries.
