Captain among 2 Army personnel killed in blast near Line of Control in Jammu

Two Army personnel, including a captain, were killed and another was injured when suspected terrorists set off an improvised explosive device near the Line of Control in Akhnoor sector near here on Tuesday, officials said.

This was the third incident of cross-border action by terrorists in the Jammu region in four days. It came a day after the general officer commanding of the Army's Jammu-based White Knight Corps unit, Lieutenant General Navin Sachdeva, reviewed "hostile activities" along the LoC in Rajouri district.

The Army confirmed the fatalities in the blast saying "own troops are dominating the area and search operations are underway".

The officials said the troops were on patrol duty when they were hit by the powerful explosion near a forward post in Bhattal area of Akhnoor in Jammu district at around 3.50 pm.

The injured personnel were rushed to a hospital where two of them, including the captain, succumbed to their injuries, they said, adding that the other injured soldier is "out of danger".

White Knight Corps, also known as XVI Corps, saluted the supreme sacrifice by the two soldiers.

"Suspected Improvised Explosive Device blast reported in #Laleali in Akhnoor Sector during a fence patrol, resulting in two fatalities. Own troops are dominating the area and search operations are underway.

"White Knight Corps salutes and pays tribute to the supreme sacrifice of two gallant soldiers," it said in a post on X.

In a post on X, the Northern Command of the Army identified the fallen soldiers as Captain Karamjit Singh Bakshi and Naik Mukesh.

"(General officer Commanding-in-chief, Northern Command) Lt Gen MV Suchindra Kumar and all ranks of Dhruva Command solemnly salute the supreme sacrifice of bravehearts Capt Karamjit Singh Bakshi and Naik Mukesh in a suspected IED blast in Akhnoor.

"Dhruva Command stands firm with the bereaved families in this hour of grief," the post read.