28 soldiers lost lives in Jammu and Kashmir attacks since April ’23

Arjun Sharma

Jammu, July 16

At least 28 soldiers have been killed in major terror-related incidents in Jammu and Kashmir since April last year.

On April 20 last year, an Army vehicle was ambushed in Mendhar Tehsil of Poonch district killing five personnel. While a search operation was launched in neighboring Rajouri district’s Kandi area on May 5, five para-commandos were killed when ultras triggered an IED in the dense forest area.

Major terror incidents

• On April 20 last year, an Army vehicle was ambushed in Mendhar Tehsil of Poonch district killing five personnel
• Five Army personnel, including two Captains, died during an encounter in the Kalakote area of Rajouri on November 22
• Four soldiers were killed in another ambush by terrorists on an Army vehicle on December 21 in Surankote of Poonch

Five Army personnel, including two Captains, died during an encounter in the Kalakote area of Rajouri on November 22. Two terrorists were also killed in the operation. Four soldiers were killed in another ambush by terrorists on an Army vehicle on December 21 in Surankote of Poonch.

This year, an IAF vehicle was attacked near the Shahsitar area in Poonch killing one personnel on May 4. On July 8, five soldiers were killed in an ambush in Billawar of Kathua, while four soldiers were killed in an encounter in Doda.

However, the Army and other security forces have witnessed major setbacks in the past. Sources quoting data informed that in year 2001, over 630 security forces personnel were killed while fighting insurgency. In 2002, the number of fatalities of security forces personnel dropped to 469. A further drop was witnessed in 2006 when 165 security forces personnel were killed in J&K.

In 2015, 41 security forces personnel, including 26 Army men, were killed in terror-related incidents. In 2016, the number of casualties was 88, out of which 55 were soldiers. In 2017, as many as 83 security forces personnel were killed, out of which 36 were soldiers.

The number of casualties of security forces personnel went up to 91 in 2018 and 80 in 2019 when 40 jawans were killed in the Pulwama attack. Year 2020 witnessed killing of 63 security forces personnel. In 2021, 41 security forces personnel were killed as per the official data and the number of personnel killed in 2022 was 32.