An official said a JCO was among the five martyred army soldiers.
Paracommandos were airdropped in the area after the terror attack to track and hunt down the terrorists.
Officials said the terrorists lobbed a grenade and then opened automatic fire on military vehicles carrying out routine patrolling duties on the Machedi-Kindli-Malhar road in Kathua at 3.30 pm.
"The terrorist attack occurred near Badnota village, which is 150 kilometers from Kathua city," officials said. Earlier, officials had said that the site of the terror attack was 52 kilometers from Kathua city.
Security forces retaliated, but reports indicate that the terrorists escaped from the scene.
"Ten army soldiers were injured in this terror attack. The injured were shifted to the hospital where five soldiers succumbed to critical injuries. Five injured soldiers are being treated at the hospital," an official said.
A massive CASO (Operation Cordon and Search) was launched in the area.
Authorities said reinforcements have been sent to the scene to increase the strength of security forces to locate the terrorists responsible for the attack.
Monday's attack is the second major terrorism-related incident in Kathua district in the last four weeks.
Two terrorists and a CRPF jawan were killed in a gunfight during a search and cordon operation on June 12 and 14 in Hiranagar area of the district.
A major terrorist attack on innocent pilgrims took place in Reasi district of Jammu division on June 9, in which terrorists fired on a bus of pilgrims returning from Shiv-Khori temple.
The terrorists killed the bus driver and continued shooting at the bus after it fell into a gorge. In that attack nine pilgrims died and another 44 were injured.
J&K DGP, R.R.Swain has said that a group of foreign terrorists is active in Poonch hills, Rajouri and adjoining districts taking advantage of the terrain and remoteness of the area.
Security forces have launched an aggressive campaign against terrorists.
On July 6 and 7, six terrorists and two soldiers were killed in two clashes between terrorists hiding in Kulgam district of the Kashmir Valley.
Paracommandos were airdropped in the area after the terror attack to track and hunt down the terrorists.
Officials said the terrorists lobbed a grenade and then opened automatic fire on military vehicles carrying out routine patrolling duties on the Machedi-Kindli-Malhar road in Kathua at 3.30 pm.
"The terrorist attack occurred near Badnota village, which is 150 kilometers from Kathua city," officials said. Earlier, officials had said that the site of the terror attack was 52 kilometers from Kathua city.
Security forces retaliated, but reports indicate that the terrorists escaped from the scene.
"Ten army soldiers were injured in this terror attack. The injured were shifted to the hospital where five soldiers succumbed to critical injuries. Five injured soldiers are being treated at the hospital," an official said.
A massive CASO (Operation Cordon and Search) was launched in the area.
Authorities said reinforcements have been sent to the scene to increase the strength of security forces to locate the terrorists responsible for the attack.
Monday's attack is the second major terrorism-related incident in Kathua district in the last four weeks.
Two terrorists and a CRPF jawan were killed in a gunfight during a search and cordon operation on June 12 and 14 in Hiranagar area of the district.
A major terrorist attack on innocent pilgrims took place in Reasi district of Jammu division on June 9, in which terrorists fired on a bus of pilgrims returning from Shiv-Khori temple.
The terrorists killed the bus driver and continued shooting at the bus after it fell into a gorge. In that attack nine pilgrims died and another 44 were injured.
J&K DGP, R.R.Swain has said that a group of foreign terrorists is active in Poonch hills, Rajouri and adjoining districts taking advantage of the terrain and remoteness of the area.
Security forces have launched an aggressive campaign against terrorists.
On July 6 and 7, six terrorists and two soldiers were killed in two clashes between terrorists hiding in Kulgam district of the Kashmir Valley.
