India vows action, says those killed in Kathua ambush 'won't go unavenged'

Following a militant attack in Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir's Kathua on Monday (July 8) that claimed the lives of five soldiers, India indicated it would retaliate.

The killing of five armymen in a terror attack will not go unavenged, Indian Defence Secretary Giridhar Aramane said on Tuesday (July 9).

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The Defence Secretary expressed condolences to the families of thedeceased.

Taking to the social media platform X, Aramane said, "I express profound grief on the loss of five Bravehearts in a terrorist attack in Badnota, Kathua, and extend deepest condolences to the bereaved families.”

“Their selfless service to the nation will always be remembered & their sacrifice will not go unavenged and India will defeat the evil forces behind the attack,” he added.

On July 8, five army personnel, which included a Junior Commissioned Officer, lost their lives and several others were injured after the Indian Army convoy was attacked in the remote Machedi area of Jammu and Kashmir’s Kathua district.

Around ten soldiers were in an Army truck that was attacked by grenade and gunfire. A search operation has been launched to track the terrorists.

Monday’s attack was the secondon the Army within two days.

Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad's (JeM) shadow militant outfit ‘Kashmir Tigers’ has claimed responsibility for the Kathua terror attack.

Rajnath Singh on death of five armymen

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said he is "deeply anguised" by the solders' deaths yesterday.

"I am deeply anguished at the loss of five of our brave Indian Army Soldiers in a terrorist attack in Badnota, Kathua (J&K). My deepest condolences to the bereaved families, the Nation stands firm with them in this difficult time. The Counter Terrorist operations are underway, and our soldiers are determined to usher in peace and order in the region. I pray for a speedy recovery to those who sustained injuries in this dastardly terror attack," the defence minister said in a post on X.

Who are Kashmir Tigers?

The militant outfit Kashmir Tigers' name came into limelight in January 2021 after the abrogation of Article 370 in India's Jammu and Kashmir.

The police said that this was a shadow group of the terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammad. It had claimed responsibility for carrying out a grenade attack in South Kashmir in June 2021.

In December of the same year, the militant outfit attacked a police bus in Srinagar, in which threewere killed and 11 others were injured.

(With inputs from agencies)