Five Army soldiers killed in encounter in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch

Five Indian Army soldiers were killed in an encounter that broke out during an anti-insurgency operation in the Poonch sector of Jammu and Kashmir on Monday. Among the deceased are four jawans and one Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO).

The operation was launched in a village close to DKG in Surankote in the early hours following intelligence inputs about the presence of terrorists, a Defence spokesman said. The Army has cordoned off the area as three to four militants were believed to be trapped there.

The spokesperson said the ultras opened heavy fire on the search parties resulting in critical injuries to the JCO and four other ranks. All the five soldiers succumbed to their injuries.