Soldier critically hurt in IED blast along LoC in Poonch

Ravi Krishnan Khajuria

Tribune News Service

Jammu, December 1

Close on the heels of a major terror attack in the Arnia sub-sector of Jammu district followed by a powerful IED blast in Nangi Tekri area of the KG sector, a soldier was critically injured in another IED blast close to the LoC in the Balakote sector of Poonch district today.

The IED is believed to have been planted by Pak ultras from across the border.

Three Assembly constituencies in Poonch district — Poonch Haveli, Surankote and Mendhar — are all set to go to the polls in the second phase tomorrow.

Terror strike by four armed ultras in the Arnia sub-sector on November 27 and 28 had left five civilians and three soldiers dead, while the IED blast in the KG sector of Poonch on November 29 had blown up a 2.5 ton Army vehicle.

“Around 10.50 am today, a soldier identified as Subedar Rajinder Kumar of 6 Rajput Regiment sustained critical injuries after an IED exploded near the Cheel post in Tarkundi area of the Balakote sector,” said an Intelligence source.

He said the injured soldier was immediately evacuated to 150 Garrison Hospital in Rajouri and then to Command Hospital in Udhampur in view of his critical condition.

The injured along with other soldiers was on a foot patrol.

“The IED, it appeared, was planted a couple of days back,” he added.

The source further said it appeared that the militants with active connivance of the Pakistan Army had planted the IED to disturb the electoral process.

The Tarkundi area of the Balakote sectors along the LoC runs between twin border districts of Rajouri and Poonch.

However, Defence spokesperson Lt Col Manish Mehta said an IED exploded in the Rajouri sector near the LoC. The area was immediately cordoned off. Detailed search and sanitisation operation was in progress when reports last poured in, he maintained.

On November 29, an Army vehicle carrying some ration supplies to forward positions in the Nangi Tekri area of the KG sector was blown up in a powerful IED blast.

Luckily, the Army driver and his co-driver escaped unhurt. The incident had occurred around 10.30 am.

An official source said the two incidents of IED explosions inside the Indian Territory amply convey failure of the intelligence network.

It may be stated here that Jamat-ud-Dawa chief Hafiz Saeed had been reportedly spotted close to the LoC in PoK motivating ultras to intrude into Indian Territory and flare up terrorism to stall the ongoing elections.