An Army captain and a jawan were killed and another injured in a powerful Improvised Explosive Device (IED) near the Line of Control (LoC) in Akhnoor sector of Jammu district on Tuesday.
The White Knight Corps posted on X, "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 further posted.
Sources said the army men were on patrol duty when they were hit by the powerful explosion near a forward post in the Bhattal area of Akhnoor in Jammu district at around 3:50 pm.
Three army men were injured in the blast and they were evacuated to nearby military hospital, where two of them including a captain succumbed.
The deceased were identified as Captain Karamjit Singh Bakshi and Naik Mukesh.
Another injured jawan is undergoing treatment in the hospital.
The IED blast came a day after the General Officer Commanding of the Jammu-based White Knight Corps unit of the Army, Lieutenant General Navin Sachdeva, reviewed “hostile activities” along the LoC in Rajouri district.
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.
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.
The Indian army men had also fired a few rounds in retaliation and subsequently, the anti-infiltration grid was strengthened to keep a tight vigil in the area.
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.
However, there was no official word about the possible terrorist casualties in the blast.
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha paid tributes to Army men, who laid down their lives in the line of duty in Akhnoor Sector.
“I salute the supreme sacrifice of our Army bravehearts who laid down their lives in the line of duty. Their valour and sacrifice will never be forgotten. The entire nation stands firmly with the family of the martyrs in this hour of grief,” the Lieutenant Governor said.
The Chief Minister Omar Abdullah also paid tributes to the slain army men.
“LtGenMVSuchindraKumar #ArmyCdrNC and all ranks of #DhruvaCommand solemnly salute the supreme sacrifice of #Bravehearts Capt Karamjit Singh Bakshi and Naik Mukesh in a suspected IED blast in #Akhnoor. DhruvaCommand stands firm with the bereaved family in this hour of grief,” Army’s Northern command posted on X.