JAMMU, Feb 11: Two Army soldiers including one Captain were martyred and another jawan was injured when an Improvised Explosive Device (IED), reportedly planted by terrorists from across the Line of Control exploded in forward area of Bhattal in Akhnoor sector this afternoon prompting massive searches on the LoC.This was the third incident of cross-border action by terrorists in the jammu region in four days.Reports said suspected terrorists or intruders from across the LoC managed to plant powerful IED on Indian side in Bhattal area of Akhnoor sector. The IED appeared to have been set off with a remote-control device when an Army team led by a Captain was patrolling the area around 3.50 PM, leading to a powerful explosion.
Three Army soldiers were injured in the blast and were rushed to the Military Hospital where two of them succumbed to their injuries. Army identified the martyrs as Capt Karamjit Singh Bakshi and Naik Mukesh Singh Manhas. The Captain belongs to Ranchi, Jharkhand while the Naik is native of village Bri Kamila in Utterbehni area of Samba district in the Jammu region.
Naik Manhas was engaged to a girl from village Satraian in RS Pura area and was scheduled to get married on April 18 this year. The Captain was also engaged to an Army doctor in Sainik Colony Jammu and his marriage was also scheduled for the same date.
Injured soldier is responding to treatment in the hospital.
There was no official word on how the IED was planted in forward area of the LoC. Reports, however, said that it was done from across the LoC and those responsible for planting the explosive device could be the infiltrators. The IED might have been detonated with a remote control device.
“There are many gaps on the LoC which can’t be plugged due to difficult terrain,” the officials said, adding the area where blast took place is located right on the LoC.
The Army said “own troops are dominating the area and search operations are underway”. Searches are being carried out in different forward areas in Akhnoor sector. Alert has been sounded all along the LoC to ensure that there is no fresh infiltration attempt.
The White Knight Corps, also known as the XVI Corps, saluted the supreme sacrifice of the two soldiers.
“Suspected Improvised Explosive Device blast reported in #Laleali in Akhnoor Sector during a fence patrol, resulting in two fatalities. Own troops are dominating the area and search operations are underway.
“White Knight Corps salutes and pays tribute to the supreme sacrifice of two gallant soldiers,” it said in a post on X.
On Monday, a soldier was hit by a bullet from across the border while manning a forward post in the Kalal area of the Nowshera sector in Rajouri district, while on February 8, an Army patrol came under terrorist fire from a forest across the LoC in Rajouri’s Keri sector. The terrorists were apparently waiting for an opportunity to sneak into the Indian side.
In the intervening night of February 4 and February 5, a land mine explosion reportedly resulted in some casualties to terrorists attempting to infiltrate into the Indian side from across the LoC in the Krishna Ghati sector of Poonch district.
The Indian troops had also fired a few rounds in retaliation and subsequently, the Anti-Infiltration Grid was strengthened to keep a tight vigil in the area.
“GOC White Knight Corps, along with GOC Ace of Spades and GOC Crossed Swords divisions, yesterday visited forward areas of the Rajouri sector for an operational update on the prevailing security situation and the hostile activities,” the Army had said in a post on X.
However, there was no official word about the possible terrorist casualties in the blast.
