NEW DELHI, Feb 11: Two soldiers were killed when an Improvised Explosive Device (IED), believed to have been planted by terrorists, exploded during a patrol on Jammu’s Akhnoor Sector on Tuesday.
“Suspected Improvised Explosive Device (IED) blast reported in Laleali in Akhnoor Sector during a fence patrol resulting in two fatalities,” the Army said. The Army confirmed the fatalities in the blast and said “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,” the Army said. The officials said the troops were on patrolling duty when they were hit by the powerful explosion near a forward post in the Bhattal area at around 3:50 pm.
The injured personnel were rushed to a hospital where two of them, including a captain, succumbed to their injuries, they said, adding that the condition of the other injured soldier is “out of danger.”
The Jammu-based White Knight Corps unit of the Army saluted the supreme sacrifice of the two soldiers. The entire area was cordoned off after the explosion, the officials said.
On Monday, a soldier was critically injured by gunfire along the LoC in Rajouri district. The soldier was at a forward post in the Kalal area of the Nowshera sector when a bullet hit him. He was immediately taken to a military hospital, officials said. They said preliminary information revealed the fire came from across the LoC around 2.40 pm.
On February 8, an army patrol was fired upon from a forest across the LoC in the Keri sector by terrorists, apparently waiting for an opportunity to cross the LoC. Indian troops fired in retaliation and subsequently, the anti-infiltration grid was strengthened to keep a tight vigil in the area.
(Manas Dasgupta)
