Poonch encounter update: army retrieves bodies of two missing personnel, toll mounts to 9

As a search operation to track a group of terrorists continued in the Mendhar forests for the six consecutive day on Saturday, the Indian army confirmed the death of two more personnel, taking the overall toll to 9.

On Monday, the army had engaged a group of terrorists in Poonch and in the initial exchange of fire five army personnel including a junior commanding officer lost their lives.

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The army said in a statement Subedar Ajay Singh and Naik Harendra Singh were killed in action during search operations being conducted in densely forested area of Nar Khas in Mendhar.

The army said on Thursday after a fierce firefight with terrorists, the communication with the duo was disrupted and relentless operations continued to neutralize the terrorists and to re-establish communication with the soldiers.

The army said Subedar Ajay Singh and Naik Harendra Singh were killed in action in the fierce fight and their bodies have been recovered in the evening of Friday and the operations in the area are continuing.

On Friday the army had released details of two riflemen from Uttarakhand who were also slain in the ongoing encounter.

PRO(Defence) Jammu