The defence ministry on Tuesday said India would “defeat the evil forces” behind the killing of five army personnel in a terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kathua district and their sacrifice would not go unavenged.

Defence minister Rajnath Singh expressed deep anguish over the deaths and asserted that the armed forces were determined to usher in peace in the region.

“I am deeply anguished at the loss of five of our brave Indian Army Soldiers in a terrorist attack in Badnota, Kathua (J&K)," Rajnath posted on X.

Rajnath added: “My deepest condolences to the bereaved families, the Nation stands firm with them in this difficult time.”

“The counter-terrorist operations are underway, and our soldiers are determined to usher in peace and order in the region. I pray for a speedy recovery to those who sustained injuries in this dastardly terror attack.”

Defence secretary Giridhar Aramane, too, expressed his “profound grief on the loss of five bravehearts in a terrorist attack” and extended condolences to the bereaved families.

“Their selfless service to the nation will always be remembered and their sacrifice will not go unavenged and India will defeat the evil forces behind the attack,” he said.

Five soldiers, including a junior commissioned officer, were killed and five injured when militants ambushed an army convoy in Kathua on Monday afternoon.

This was the second militant attack in Jammu in two days and the sixth in one month. It was also the first big attack on soldiers this year.

The five soldiers killed in the attack hailed from Uttarakhand.

The army’s western command on Tuesday identified the martyred personnel as Rifleman Anuj Negi from Pauri, Nayab Subedar Anand Singh from Rudraprayag, Naik Vinod Singh from Tehri, Havildar Kamal Singh from Pauri and Rifleman Adarsh Negi from Tehri.