Poonch LoC: Four killed in IED blast on Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir side, high alert

At least four residents of Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir were killed in an IED (Improvised Explosive Device) blast across Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch across the Line of Control (LoC) adjacent to Krishna Ghati in Poonch district on Monday.

“A group of four infiltrators was reportedly killed in a heavy IED blast in Salotri area near Nangi Tekri along a checkpoint in Poonch sector on Monday afternoon,” Hindustan Times reported citing official sources.

The death has prompted heightened security measures on the Indian side, PTI reported, citing an official.

The blast occurred in PoJK’s Satwal-Naki Hajira tehsil area when some laborers were laying a water pipeline along the Pakistani side of the LOC, PTI reported quoting officials.

Officials cited preliminary information received from across the border which revealed that the deceased were identified as Faizan Sagheer, Ishtiaq, Waqas Sharief and Asim Rafiq, who hailed from Battal Mandhol village in PoJK and were said to be cousins.

Officials also said the involvement of any of the deceased in terrorist activities was not immediately known.

Vigilance has been beefed up across the LoC and security forces have issued an alert to prevent any possible security breach, officials said.

Landmines near borders

In another development, Indian Army troops on Monday discovered two rusted landmines near the border fence in Basoni area of Mendhar sector. These landmines were spotted during track construction at 8:25 a.m. and 12:10 p.m., officials said.

He also added that both devices were neutralized by army experts with a controlled explosion.

In the last week alone, the Indian Army has detected and defused about a dozen landmines.

As part of the anti-infiltration system, forward areas along the line of communication are strewn with landmines. Sometimes heavy rains tend to wash these mines away, causing them to surface in areas where they could pose a potential hazard.