Akhnoor, Apr 12, KNT: A Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO) of the Indian Army, who was critically injured in an encounter with militants near the Line of Control (LoC) in the Akhnoor sector of Jammu, succumbed to his injuries, officials said on Saturday.
According to officials, the incident took place during an attempted infiltration along the Keri-Battal stretch, where Army personnel intercepted a group of militants trying to sneak into the Indian side under the cover of darkness.
“Militants opened fire on an Army patrol near a forward post late last night. The patrol team retaliated effectively, leading to an exchange of gunfire,” the officials told Kashmir News Trust.
In the ensuing gunfight, a JCO sustained critical injuries. “He was immediately airlifted to a military hospital for emergency treatment. During the treatment the JCO could not be saved and succumbed to his injuries,” the officials added.
The officials added that the infiltration attempt was successfully thwarted, and search operations are continuing in the dense forested region to track down any remaining militants who may be hiding in the area.
The Army has intensified its vigil along the LoC in the wake of increased attempts by militants to exploit weather conditions and sneak into the region. Senior officials have paid tribute to the slain soldier and reaffirmed the Army’s resolve to maintain peace and prevent any breach of the border.
The slain soldier has been identified as Kuldeep Chand who was affiliated with 9 Punjab Regiment. [KNT]
