'INDIA bloc will strengthen counter-terror grid': Congress after Poonch attack

The Congress on Sunday said the party and its INDIA bloc allies will leave no stone unturned in bolstering the counter-terrorism grid in Jammu and Kashmir. The response came a day after an Air Force soldier was killed in a terror attack in the Union Territory's Poonch district.

Five Air Force personnel suffered injuries when their convoy was attacked by terrorists in the Surankote area in Poonch district. One of them succumbed to his injuries at a military hospital in Udhampur.

Condemning the terror attack, senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said the Poonch attack was a part of a worrying trend of terror attacks in the area.

"We strongly and unequivocally condemn this dastardly terror attack and join the nation in unitedly standing together against terrorism," he tweeted.

Ramesh claimed that while there were "no major incidents of terrorism in this area between 2007 and 2014", the terror attack in Poonch was part of a worrying trend, particularly against security personnel, in the hilly Rajouri-Poonch areas situated near the Line of Control (LoC).

"It is a matter of grave concern that since January 1, 2023, 25 of our brave security personnel and eight innocent civilians have lost their lives in the Rajouri-Poonch areas. In contrast, there were no major incidents of terrorism in this area between 2007 and 2014," he said.

"After June 4, the Congress and its INDIA bloc partners will leave no stone unturned in strengthening the counter-terrorism grid by fully supporting our brave soldiers," he asserted.

Ramesh said the INDIA bloc's approach would be to consistently empower the political class and civil society, transcending religious and ethnic ties, which will support the efforts of the troops to mount a collective societal deterrence against terrorists in the Rajouri-Poonch area.

"This will make them equal partners in efforts towards peace and security in this sensitive and strategic region," he said.

According to the Air Force, a well-coordinated joint operation by the Army and police was on in many areas, including Shahsitar, Gursai, Sanai and Sheendara Top, to neutralise the terrorists.

On Saturday, Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge "unequivocally" condemned the terror attack in Poonch and offered his condolences to the family of the Indian Air Force soldier who succumbed to his injuries. He also wished a speedy recovery to the injured.

"Deeply pained by the cowardly terror attack on the IAF vehicle in Poonch, Jammu and Kashmir. We strongly and unequivocally condemn this dastardly terror attack and join the nation in standing together against terrorism," he wrote on X.

"Our deepest condolences to the family of the brave air warrior who made the supreme sacrifice. We hope that the injured air warriors recover at the earliest and earnestly pray for their well-being. India is united for our soldiers," he said.

Congress MP Rahul Gandhi described the terror attack as "cowardly" and condoled the death of the Air Force soldier.

"The cowardly and daring terrorist attack on our Army convoy in Poonch, Jammu and Kashmir is extremely shameful and sad. I pay my humble tribute to the martyred soldier and express my condolences to his bereaved family. I hope that the soldiers injured in the attack recover as soon as possible," he tweeted in Hindi.

(with inputs from PTI)