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NEW DELHI: At least two terrorists armed with AK-47 rifles fired a minimum of 36 shots from three sides at the Army truck during the ambush in Poonch on Thursday. This was followed by lobbing of two Chinese-made grenades and use of sticky bombs, as per a prime facie assessment by agencies involved in the post-blast investigation.
Sources in the security establishment told TOI that bad weather and forested surroundings worked to the advantage of the terrorists who had conducted a thorough reconnaissance, possibly with local support, to identify the spot where the army vehicle would inadvertently slow down, making it easier for them to target it.
Sources said the AK-47-wielding terrorists were on the move as they fired, which explains the bullet marks found on three sides of the Army truck. The bullets were identified as armour-piercing 7.62mm steel core bullets. One grenade is said to have hit the fuel tank, but it possibly did not immediately catch fire, which is why the terrorists planted a sticky bomb. The sticky bomb was likely set off remotely, after which the terrorists — who may have been at least 3-4 in number — escaped, possibly through a pre-identified route.
Sources in the security establishment told TOI that bad weather and forested surroundings worked to the advantage of the terrorists who had conducted a thorough reconnaissance, possibly with local support, to identify the spot where the army vehicle would inadvertently slow down, making it easier for them to target it.
Sources said the AK-47-wielding terrorists were on the move as they fired, which explains the bullet marks found on three sides of the Army truck. The bullets were identified as armour-piercing 7.62mm steel core bullets. One grenade is said to have hit the fuel tank, but it possibly did not immediately catch fire, which is why the terrorists planted a sticky bomb. The sticky bomb was likely set off remotely, after which the terrorists — who may have been at least 3-4 in number — escaped, possibly through a pre-identified route.
03:28
J-K: 5 Army Jawans killed after terrorists lob grenades at their vehicle in Poonch
Incidentally, the People’s Anti-Fascist Force (PAFF), a purported front of the Jaish-e-Mohammad, in a statement owning up to the attack, appears to confirm this sequence.
Sources are not ruling out local help in the terror attack. The truck was headed for village Sanjote some 7-8 km away, and had even briefly stopped en route. Multiple sources have pointed to an apparent laxity in road opening party duties, possibly on account of bad weather.
01:44
Poonch Terror Attack: Latest developments and details uncovered
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