Dead body of abducted Indian Army soldier Aurangzeb found in Pulwama

In the continuing multidimensional onslaught on personnel of the Indian Armed Forces, the bullet-ridden body of Indian Army's Aurangzeb, who was abducted by terrorists from Pulwama district, has been found at Gusoo, Pulwama.

Aurangzeb was a rifleman with the 44 Rashtriya Rifles. He was in a private vehicle when he was abducted near Kalampora. Originally a resident of Poonch, Aurangzeb was on leave and going home.

Rashtriya Rifles

The 44 RR (Rashtriya Rifles) has been India's most successful counter insurgency unit this year.

Based at Shopian in South Kashmir, the unit has been instrumental in the recent crackdown against terrorists in the valley prior to the Ramzan ceasefire.

Since the start of this year, 44 RR has taken down 19 terrorists in its area of operations - the most by far by any Indian Army unit this year.

Major encounters include taking down Sameer Tiger on April 30. The commander of the Hizbul Mujhahideen Commander was gunned down less than 24 hours after he dared the local army company commander to come get him, in a video recorded and circulated on social media.

Other major success include the gunning down of five terrorists in an operation in May, including Hizbul Commander Saddam Paddar.

These spate of encounters has also made 44 RR at the top of the militant hit list in Kashmir. There have been several attacks on the unit in recent times, including an IED blast on its convoy on May 28, while the ceasefire was on.

What makes the 44 RR stand out from other army units is its training ethos and the men who undertake the counter insurgency operations.

A motto of the unit is `Aaj Contact Hoga' - the signboard that greets all soldiers leaving the 44 RR camp. This is a reminder to always be on the ready - to be prepared for a contact with terrorists in the field

Onslaught
The news follows the killing of another Army personnel in Bandipora district this morning. The army personnel sustained serious bullet wounds during the operation. Later, he was immediately evacuated to a military hospital. However, he succumbed to his injuries.

Latest data also revealed that eleven BSF troops have been killed in cross-border firing incidents along the International Border (IB) in Jammu and Kashmir till date in 2018, the highest casualty figure for the border force in an year in the last five years. Four Border Security Force (BSF) personnel, including an Assistant Commandant-rank officer, were killed in the Ramgarh sector of Jammu on June 13.

Two days ago, two policemen were killed and ten Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel injured in separate militant attacks in Pulwama and Anantnag districts of southern Kashmir.

The attacks take place at a time when the government is deliberating on possible extension of suspension of combat operations announced for the month of Ramzan.

(With agency inputs)