Two Army Personnel Killed in IED Blast Near LoC in Akhnoor

In a tragic incident, two Indian Army personnel, including a captain, were killed, and another was injured when suspected terrorists triggered an improvised explosive device (IED) near the Line of Control (LoC) in Akhnoor, Jammu, on Tuesday. The blast occurred around 3:50 PM while the soldiers were patrolling near a forward post in the Bhattal area. The injured personnel were rushed to a hospital, where two, including Captain Karanjit Singh Bakshi, succumbed to their injuries, while the third soldier remains in stable condition.

The White Knight Corps, also known as the XVI Corps, paid tribute to the fallen soldiers, stating that search operations were underway and troops continued to dominate the area. This incident marks the third cross-border terrorist activity in the Jammu region within four days. It followed a sniper attack on Monday in the Nowshera sector, where a soldier was injured, and an earlier ambush on an Army patrol in the Keri sector of Rajouri on February 8.

The Army's Northern Command confirmed the deaths and saluted the sacrifice of Captain Karanjit Singh Bakshi and Naik Mukesh. Lieutenant General M.V. Suchindra Kumar and all ranks of Dhruva Command expressed condolences. At the same time, Jammu & Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha paid tribute, emphasizing that their bravery and sacrifice would never be forgotten.

Following the attack, General Officer Commanding (GOC) White Knight Corps, Lieutenant General Navin Sachdeva, along with GOC Ace of Spades and GOC Crossed Swords divisions, reviewed the security situation along the LoC in Rajouri. The Army reinforced its anti-infiltration measures and urged troops to stay vigilant against hostile activities.

Meanwhile, in the intervening night of February 4 and 5, a landmine explosion was reported in the Krishna Ghati sector of Poonch, causing casualties among terrorists attempting to infiltrate from across the border, though official confirmation is awaited.

This IED explosion in Akhnoor is part of an increasing pattern of cross-border hostilities. The Army continues to strengthen its defenses to prevent further incursions and retaliate against hostile activities along the LoC.