Two soldiers, as many army porters killed in Kashmir terror attack

Two army soldiers and as many civilians working as porters with the army were killed after terrorists fired at an army vehicle near the world-famous ski resort Gulmarg in Jammu and Kashmir’s Baramulla district on Oct 24 evening, officials said.

Three soldiers were also injured in the attack.

The attack on the vehicle of 18 Rashtriya Rifles (RR) took place in the remote Butapathri area, not so far from Gulmarg in Baramulla district and around 5 km from the Line of Control (LoC).

A massive search operation has been launched by the security forces to track down the attackers, a police official was quoted as saying.

Indian Army's Chinar Corps in a post on X confirmed an exchange of fire between soldiers and terrorists in the general area of Baramulla's Butapathri but did not mention anything about the casualties.

Police identified the porters killed in the attack as Mushtaq Ahmed Choudhary and Zahoor Ahmad Mir — both residents of Boniyar, Baramulla.

The attack comes hours after a non-local laborer — Pritam Singh, a resident of Uttar Pradesh was shot at and injured by suspected terrorists in south Kashmir’s Tral town.

Terrorists shot dead seven civilians on Oct 20 near an under-construction tunnel on the Srinagar-Leh highway — a major targeted attack in recent months.

On June 9, this year, nine Amarnath pilgrims were killed after the bus they were traveling in plunged into a gorge, when terrorists fired on it.

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah condemned the attack on the army.

“Very unfortunate news about the attack on the army vehicles in the Boota Pathri area of North Kashmir which has resulted in some casualties & injuries,” Abdullah wrote on X.

"This recent spate of attacks in Kashmir is a matter of serious concern. I condemn this attack in the strongest possible terms & send my condolences to the loved ones of the people who lost their lives. I also pray that the injured make a complete & swift recovery," he added.

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) President, and former J&K chief minister, Mehbooba Mufti also condemned the attack and prayed for the swift recovery of the injured soldiers.

“Shocked & deeply saddened by the militant attack on an army convoy in Baramulla in which a civilian porter has been killed. Condemn it unequivocally & pray for the swift recovery of the injured soldiers,” Mehbooba wrote on X.