Two Indian Army soldiers have lost their lives while one soldier has sustained critical injuries after a suspected improvised explosive device (IED) explode near the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir’s Akhnoor sector on Tuesday. Confirming the development, the Indian Army stated that the explosion went off around 3:30 pm when the troops were conducting a regular patrol along the frontier.
Injured soldiers were taken to a nearby hospital, where two of them, including a Captain, unfortunately succumbed to their injuries. The third soldier was airlifted to a nearby Army Hospital due to critical injuries but is said to be out of danger.
Indian Army Responds to the Attack
The Jammu-based White Knight Corps of the Indian Army acknowledged the attack on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter). The post read:
“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. The White Knight Corps salutes and pays tribute to the supreme sacrifice of two gallant soldiers.”
After the explosion, additional security forces have been deployed in the region. A major & long-scale operation is under way along the LoC to track down the perpetrators and secure the area from further threats.
Recent Attacks in Jammu and Kashmir
This latest attack in Akhnoor is a part of a concerning trend of rising terrorist activities in the valley. In recent months, several incidents have targeted security personnel in the region:
December 2023 (Poonch Attack): Five soldiers were killed when terrorists ambushed an army convoy in the Poonch district.
January 2024 (Rajouri Encounter): Four security personnel lost their lives in a gun battle with terrorists.
Also Read: Brigadier Lakhbinder Singh Lidder: A Legacy of Service and Sacrifice
May 2024 (Reasi Bus Attack): The attack by terrorists on a bus filled with pilgrims killed nine, with over 30 sustaining injuries. These incidents highlight the increasing threats of cross-border terrorism. The Indian Army is presently in a heightened state of alert and active searching and intensified anti-terror operations in the region.
Searches continued throughout the day in Akhnoor, while security forces remained determined to root out the terrorist threat and restore normalcy in the region.
