Irfan Yattoo
Srinagar: An Army soldier was injured in a landmine explosion along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch district on Saturday, while in a separate incident, a rusted mortar shell was safely destroyed in a forward village, officials said.
The incident occurred in the Balakote sector when an Army patrol party was carrying out area domination exercises in a forward location. An Agniveer sustained injuries after stepping on a landmine, officials said.
He was immediately evacuated and taken to a nearby hospital, where his condition is stated to be stable.
Officials said the forward areas along the LoC are part of a multi-layered anti-infiltration obstacle system and are heavily mined to prevent cross-border movement. However, landmines can get displaced due to rainfall and soil erosion, increasing the risk of accidental explosions during patrols and movement in these areas.
In a separate incident, a rusted mortar shell was spotted in Sagra village in the Balnoi sector of Poonch district. A bomb disposal squad of the Army reached the spot and carried out a controlled explosion to safely neutralise the shell.
No damage to life or property was reported in the operation, officials said.
Security forces have urged residents in forward villages to remain vigilant and immediately inform authorities about any suspicious or unexploded objects to avoid accidents.
