Mine blast at LoC kills officer, sepoy

Jammu, October 30

Two Army personnel were killed and another was injured in a landmine explosion near a forward post along the LoC in Rajouri district of Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday, officials said.

The Army said the blast occurred when the troops were on an area domination patrol in Nowshera sector.

“On October 30, during patrolling in the Nowshera sector, a landmine blast occurred wherein two Army personnel — Lieutenant Rishi Kumar and Sepoy Manjit — suffered critical injuries and later succumbed. Another soldier who was injured was evacuated. He is under treatment,” Jammu-based PRO Lt Col Devender Anand said.

Officials said the blast took place in the Kalal area of Nowshera when the Army team was on patrol duty as part of measures to check infiltration of terrorists from across the border.

They said the area was dotted with mines planted by the Army as part of the counter-infiltration arrangement.

Lt Col Anand said the brave soldiers had made the supreme sacrifice for their nation in the line of active duty.

Lieutenant Kumar was a resident of Begusarai in Bihar, while Sepoy Singh belonged to Siryewala village in Bathinda, Punjab.

“The nation and the Army shall forever remain indebted to the bravehearts for their supreme sacrifice,” Lt Col Anand said.

The General Officer Commanding of the Jammu-based 16 Corps, Lt-General Manjinder Singh, and other ranks saluted the bravehearts. Lt-Governor Manoj Sinha too paid homage to the courageous Army personnel. —TNS