Police rule out ‘terrorist attack’ as 4 killed in firing at Indian military station

[MenInG]

Four army personnel have been killed in a firing incident at a military station in the Indian border state of Punjab early on Wednesday, officials said, adding that a search for the shooters is in progress.

An unknown number of shooters are at large at the Bathinda military station and had ammunition on them, a defence source told Reuters, declining to be named citing the sensitivity of the matter.

The incident was “not a terror attack”, and took place in a canteen, a senior police official in Punjab, S.P.S. Parmar told Reuters.

“Station quick-reaction teams were activated. Area was cordoned off and sealed,” the army said in a statement. “Search operations are in progress. Further details being ascertained.”

The incident took place at 4:35am (2305 GMT Tuesday), the statement said.

The military station, about 280 km (175 miles) northwest of New Delhi, houses mostly families of soldiers and is a residential army base.

Bathinda’s top police official Gulneet Singh Khurana told local news broadcaster NDTV that a police team was waiting outside the military station and that the army had not cleared their entry yet.

He added that all four gates of the military station had been shut.

Meanwhile, ANI quoted police sources as saying that an Insas rifle with 28 cartridges had gone missing about two days ago and suspected that army personnel may be behind the incident.

Punjab has been on the edge since last month when authorities launched a manhunt for firebrand Sikh separatist leader Amritpal Singh.

Singh has in recent months rallied a huge following by demanding the creation of Khalistan, a separate Sikh homeland, the struggle for which sparked deadly violence in Punjab in the 1980s and 1990s.

He remains at large after eluding despite a huge police dragnet involving thousands of police officers and a statewide internet shutdown that lasted for several days.

Recent attacks on Indian military

Following are the major attacks on Indian military bases in the last few years:

Aug 2022: Militants attacked an Indian army post in Rajouri in the disputed Kashmir region, killing three soldiers, while two attackers died in the shootout.

Feb 2019: A suicide bomber rammed a car into a bus carrying Indian paramilitary police in Pulwama, killing 44 of them in the deadliest attack in decades on security forces in the disputed region.

Nov 2016: Militants attacked an army base at Nagrota near Jammu city, killing seven security personnel and taking hostages in the military base.

Sept 2016: Four gunmen burst into a brigade headquarters in the town of Uri in the disputed Himalayan region, killing 18 Indian soldiers.

Jan 2016: Indian security forces killed six militants who launched an assault on a military air base in Pathankot in Punjab that killed seven security personnel and injured 22.

Reuters

 

[MenInG]

Another statement issued later said the Army and Punjab police are holding a joint investigation into the incident.

On reports that an INSAS rifle and ammunition that went missing two days back could have been used in the incident, the Army statement said, "All aspects including the possible case of involvement of an INSAS rifle along with 28 rounds reported missing two days back are being ascertained."

Earlier, Bathinda's Senior Superintendent Of Police GS Khurana told NDTV that a police team is waiting outside the military station and that the Army had not cleared their entry yet.

NDTV

 

[Champ_Pal]

Could be Khalistani morons. But lets wait for more details.

 

[MenInG]

Hope this doesn't become a Pathankot type thing.

 

[MenInG]

A police complaint filed by an army Major into the killing of four soldiers at a military station in Punjab's Bathinda says two unidentified masked men in kurta-pyjama were seen at 4:30 am today.
They were seen running towards a jungle near the base, the first information report (FIR) says.

NDTV has accessed a copy of the FIR filed by the Major.

The four soldiers killed in the firing incident belonged to an artillery unit of the army. The soldiers, in their mid-20s, were sleeping when the incident happened.

The FIR says one of the masked men spotted at the military station had an INSAS assault rifle, while another carried an axe.

Investigators suspect an INSAS assault rifle and ammunition that went missing two days ago to be the weapon used in the incident. The gun and the magazine have been recovered, the army said in a statement this evening. They will be sent for forensic analysis.

The balance number of rounds in the weapon will only be available after the forensic analysis, the army said.

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The army and Punjab Police are jointly investigating the incident.

No one has been identified or detained in connection with the incident, the army said.

 

[MenInG]

According to The Hindu, Bathinda’s Senior Superintendent of Police Gulneet Khuruna told journalists that initial investigations showed the shooting was a “fratricidal incident”.

“We are in touch with the army authorities and our team has reached the spot and in-depth, a probe is being done. I want to make it clear that this is not a terrorist attack. The investigation so far reveals that the incident is related to some internal issues,” the report quoted him as saying.

The report also quoted Additional Director General of Police Surinder Pal Singh Parmar as saying: “It is not a terrorist attack, it is not an attack from outside. It is a fratricidal incident.”

DAWN

 

[KingKhanWC]

Seems a fellow military person who knows/work at the station is the culprit.

It will be interesting to find out his motive.

 

[MenInG]

Seems a fellow military person who knows/work at the station is the culprit.

It will be interesting to find out his motive.

Could be jealousy or some petty argument.

We forget that just because you're in the army, you can still have the same feelings as regular people.

 

[daytrader]

Another Soldier Dies In Bathinda, No Link To Yesterday's Firing: Army
Army sources indicate that the soldier, who was in his 20s, was part of a different unit stationed at the Bathinda military station.

A soldier has been reported dead in a military station in Punjab's Bathinda, the Army said today, adding that the incident has "no connection" with yesterday's shooting at the same army base that left four soldiers dead.
The soldier, who was in his 20s, appears to have died by suicide, it said. Army sources indicate that he was part of a different unit stationed at the Bathinda military station.

"A soldier died of a gunshot wound at approximately 4:30 PM on 12 April 2023 at Bathinda Military Station. The soldier was on sentry duty with his service weapon. The weapon and cartridge case from the same weapon was found next to the soldier. The gunshot wound was near the right temporal region. He was immediately evacuated to the Military Hospital, but succumbed to his injuries, The soldier had returned from leave on 11 April 2023. The case purportedly seems to be of attempted suicide. There is NO connection whatsoever with the incident that took place at 04:30 AM at Bathinda Military Station," the statement released to the media said.

The soldier is the fifth personnel to have died at the military station in the last 24 hours.

...
https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/sol...ation-army-3943855#pfrom=home-ndtv_topstories

 

[daytrader]

Soldier Arrested By Cops Over Bathinda Military Station Shooting: Sources
Four Army jawans were killed in their sleep in the firing incident which took place on April 12.

A soldier was today arrested from Punjab's Bathinda Military Station in connection with the recent firing incident in which four army personnel were killed in their sleep, Punjab Police sources said. The accused, Army gunner Mohan Desai, confessed to the crime and said he shot his colleagues over personal disputes.
Four jawans were on Sunday interrogated in connection with the firing, Punjab Police sources said. Cops had registered a case against two unknown persons on the basis of the statement of Major Ashutosh Shukla, a witness in the firing incident.

The FIR said the four murdered jawans have been identified as Sagar, Kamlesh, Santosh, and Yogesh. They belonged to an artillery unit of the army.

The sensational murder on April 12 had raised questions on security arrangements in the state, especially since it happened amid speculations of retaliation to the massive crackdown on separatist Sikh preacher Amritpal Singh and his outfit 'Waris Punjab Se'. Today's arrest, however, indicates the tragic incident had nothing to do with the Khalistani leader.

...
https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/sol...our-sources-3954076#pfrom=home-ndtv_topscroll

 

[MenInG]

This could become serious:

==

Five soldiers died and another was seriously injured in a terrorist attack on a military vehicle in Poonch in Jammu and Kashmir's Rajouri sector today.

The vehicle was fired upon by the terrorists at around 3 pm near the Bhimber Gali area and later caught fire due to a likely grenade attack, the Army said.

NDTV

 

[daytrader]

Five Indian soldiers killed in IIOJ&K
Indian sources reported that the truck was hit by lightning and later the cause was changed and termed a so-called terror attack

An Indian Army truck filled with fuel oil caught fire on Bhimber Gali-Ponch Road in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJ&K) on Thursday, killing five personnel of Rashtriya Rifle Force and injuring one seriously.

The accident has provided an opportunity for the Indian military establishment to malign Pakistan.

Earlier, Indian sources reported that the truck was hit by lightning and later the cause was changed and termed a so-called terror attack.

Well-placed sources told The News on Thursday evening that the Indians had been planning to carry out a false-flag operation to implicate Pakistan in a fabricated incident. The sources reminded that India, disregarding all international norms, was hosting the G-20 conference in the disputed Jammu and Kashmir.

As soon as the report about lightning striking the truck reached the Indian military headquarters, a meeting between top leaders with the army chief took place and the incident was converted into a terror attack. The Indian media implicated hardly heard People’s Anti-Fascist Front (PAFF), a proxy organisation of Jaish-e-Mohammed, and stated that it had claimed responsibility for the terrorist attack. More importantly, in this post, the PAFF had threatened to target the upcoming G-20 meeting in held Srinagar. The Indian Army said at approximately 3 pm, one army vehicle moving between Bhimber Gali and Poonch in the Rajouri sector when fired on by unidentified terrorists, taking advantage of heavy rain and low visibility in the area.

The vehicle caught fire due to the likely use of grenades. Five personnel of the Rashtriya Rifles unit deployed for counter-terrorist operations in this area have unfortunately lost their lives in the incident, the army said.

Another seriously-injured soldier was immediately evacuated to the army hospital in Rajouri. A search operation for the perpetrators of the attack is in progress.

The incident took place on a highway in the Bhata Dhurian area, some 90 km from Poonch. Drone surveillance is being conducted in the area where ‘terrorists’ fired on the truck. Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has been briefed by Army Chief General Manoj Pande about the death of five soldiers in the terrorist attack.

...
https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/1062996-five-indian-soldiers-killed-in-iioj-k

 

[MenInG]

With the investigation into the Poonch terror attack entering the fourth day on Monday, intelligence agencies have zeroed in on two Pakistan-based terror handlers who are believed to be behind the attack.

Five soldiers were killed in an ambush on April 20 when they were travelling from Bhimber Gali to Sangiote in Poonch district. They were reportedly ambushed from three different sides on the Rajouri-Poonch highway in Bhata Dhurian. The National Investigation Agency (NIA), Intelligence Bureau (IB), police and other agencies have been working day and night to ascertain who was behind the attack. While the perpetrators fled the scene and vanished into the dense forest, the names of two terror handlers—Rafiq Nai, alias Sultan, a resident of Mendhar in Poonch who resides in Pakistan, and Habibullah Malik, alias Sajid Jutt, a resident of Kasur in Pakistan—have surfaced.

The Central Government had designated both Rafiq and Habibullah as terrorists in October last year. Habibullah’s name cropped up in the Poonch attack as he was the key handler of terrorists who ambushed the soldiers during an encounter in the same Bhata Dhurian forest area in 2021. The encounter between Army and militants continued for over a fortnight, resulting in the martyrdom of nine soldiers.

As per a notification by the Union Home Ministry designating him as a terrorist, Habibullah Malik, born in 1982 in Kasur (Pakistan), has been associated with Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) and its offshoot The Resistance Front (TRF). “Habibullah Malik has been involved in radicalising Kashmiri youths and recruiting them into militancy through his network,” mentioned the official notification.

The militant is also involved in drone-dropping of arms and communication systems in Jammu region for J&K-based terrorists. Besides, he has been behind infiltration of terrorists through the Line of Control in Poonch, especially Bhimber Gali.

Habibullah was also behind a fidayeen attack on soldiers at Hyderpora, Srinagar, in June 2013 and also killing of the then SHO of Chadoora, Budgam, in December 2013.

Rafiq is “launching commander” of Tahreek-ul-Mujahideen and Jammu Kashmir Ghaznavi Force. He is involved in supervision of narcotics and weapon smuggling and infiltration of terrorists in the Poonch and Rajouri sector. Sources said he had been instrumental in attempts to revive terrorism in parts of Jammu division.

https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/j-k/poonch-probe-zeroes-in-on-2-pakistan-terror-handlers-500555

 

[pillionrider]

UP CM Adityanath referred to it as an accident. Modi and Shah have been silent. Since they always speak the truth, this is a fake story and didn't happen.

So don't expect any bhakts to comment on this.

Thank you.

 

[Colorblind Genius]

Condolences to the killed soldiers and their families.

I hope though that it spreads out into reviving the Khalistan movement and puts Sikhs against the current fascist govt of India

 

[Hitman]

Condolences to the killed soldiers and their families.

I hope though that it spreads out into reviving the Khalistan movement and puts Sikhs against the current fascist govt of India

If only wishes came true, Kashmir would have been a part of Pakistan in 1965.

 

[pillionrider]

Condolences to the killed soldiers and their families.

I hope though that it spreads out into reviving the Khalistan movement and puts Sikhs against the current fascist govt of India

Condolences offered, yet you wish for more deaths.

Please make up your mind.

 

[MP2011]

UP CM Adityanath referred to it as an accident. Modi and Shah have been silent. Since they always speak the truth, this is a fake story and didn't happen.

So don't expect any bhakts to comment on this.

Thank you.

Yeah, Pulwama was an accident too, as were all the deaths of our jawans ever since feku took over.

 

[MenInG]

Two days after a chopper hard landing in Jammu and Kashmir's Kishtwar killed a technician and injured two pilots, the Indian Army has grounded its fleet of indigenous Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) 'Dhruv' as per procedure, sources said.
The choppers were recently grounded by the Navy and the Coast Guard for more than a month after two accidents in March, but the Army had cleared some in its fleet after checks due to operational requirements. It is not yet clear if the Navy and Coast Guard Dhruv choppers are back in operation.

The clearance to restart the operations of the chopper needs to be given by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), the manufacturer of the chopper.

This was the third incident involving the ALH Dhruv in the last two months. Previously, an Indian Navy Dhruv made a forced landing in the Arabian Sea while a Coast Guard Dhruv made a forced landing moments after taking off from Kochi.

The Dhruv Advanced Light Helicopter is a workhorse for the Indian Armed Forces. In use with the Army, it flies to extremely high altitudes to serve soldiers in the Siachen glacier and in Ladakh. In recent times, there have been concerns about mechanical defects and reliability in the forces.

NDTV