Army Personnel Injured in Landmine Blast Near LoC in Poonch, J&K
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Synopsis
On February 22, an Army soldier was injured in a landmine explosion near the LoC in Poonch, Jammu and Kashmir. The soldier was airlifted to Udhampur Army Hospital for treatment after stepping on the mine during routine patrols.
Key Takeaways
- Army personnel injured in landmine blast.
- Incident occurred near LoC in Poonch.
- Flag meeting held to de-escalate tensions.
- Emphasis on ceasefire agreement.
- Heightened vigilance maintained along the borders.
Jammu, Feb 22 (NationPress) An Army personnel sustained injuries on Saturday due to a landmine explosion close to the line of control (LoC) in the Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir.
According to officials, while on routine patrol near the LoC, an Army soldier inadvertently stepped on a landmine, resulting in an explosion.
As a consequence of the incident, the Army soldier was injured and was promptly airlifted to the Udhampur Army Hospital for further medical care. He has been identified as Naik Deepak Kumar. The landmine explosion occurred just one day after a flag meeting involving brigade commanders from both armies at the Chakan Da Bagh crossing in Poonch district, aimed at de-escalating tensions following recent incidents of cross-LoC firing and an IED blast that claimed the lives of two soldiers, including a captain, officials reported.
The flag meeting at the LoC crossing lasted approximately 75 minutes and was conducted in a cordial environment. Both parties emphasized the importance of maintaining peace and tranquillity along the borders. They collectively agreed to uphold the ceasefire agreement for the greater good of border peace,” officials stated.
Since the implementation of the ceasefire agreement, there has been a semblance of normalcy for thousands of villagers residing on both sides of the LoC between India and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
Officials noted that ceasefire violations along the borders of Jammu and Kashmir have been infrequent since the renewal of the agreement on February 25, 2021.
In addition, two Indian Army soldiers were martyred in the Akhnoor sector of the LoC on February 11, while two others were injured due to firing from the Pakistani side of the LoC in the Poonch and Rajouri districts.
The Army responded to the cross-border firing in the Poonch sector, with reports indicating casualties on the Pakistani side.
Both the Army and security forces have been maintaining heightened vigilance along the LoC and in the hinterland, especially as traditional infiltration routes remain open this winter due to limited snowfall in Jammu and Kashmir.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah has led two security review meetings on J&K.
During these meetings, Union Minister Shah instructed security forces to achieve zero infiltration and to adopt a policy of zero tolerance towards terrorism.
Additionally, Lt Governor Manoj Sinha has recently conducted two security meetings, one in Srinagar and the other in Jammu.
The Lt Governor urged police and security agencies to dismantle the terror ecosystem by targeting terrorists, their over-ground workers (OGWs), and sympathizers.
