Poonch/Jammu, Apr. 21 (PTI) Security forces have launched a massive search operation in the dense forests of Bada-Doria area after five Indian soldiers were killed and one injured in an attack by terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch area, officials said on Friday.

The entire area has been cordoned off while drones and sniffer dogs are being used to sniff out terrorists lurking in the area.

A high alert has been sounded in the twin border districts of Rajouri and Poonch amid intense vigil near the Line of Control, officials said. Following the incident, traffic on the Bhimpar Kali-Poonch road has been stopped and people have been advised to proceed to Poonch via Mendhar, they said.

According to officials, following a terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch area in which five army personnel were killed and another seriously injured on Thursday when their vehicle caught fire, an NIA team will visit the site of the terror attack for investigation, the army said. Soldiers of Rashtriya Rifles for counter-terrorism operations.

The army said the vehicle in which the soldiers were traveling came under fire from unidentified terrorists and caught fire due to the use of hand grenades.

“Commander of the Army General Manoj Pandey and all ranks of the Indian Army pay tribute to the supreme sacrifice of five Indian soldiers – How Mandeep Singh, L/NK Debashish Baswal, L/NK Kulwant Singh, Sep Harkrishan Singh and Sep Sevak Singh. They lost their lives while on duty in Poonch sector yesterday,” the Additional Directorate of Public Information (ADGPI) said in a tweet.

Jammu and Kashmir Lt Governor Manoj Sinha said he was saddened by the loss of lives of brave soldiers. “The rich service they rendered to the country will never be forgotten. My thoughts are with the bereaved families,” he said in a tweet.

Political parties have condemned the attack. On Thursday evening, Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal organized a protest at Tawi Bridge in Jammu city and raised anti-Pakistan slogans. PTI AB AB NSD NSD