Court of Inquiry ordered
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 18: Two Army soldiers including a Captain attained martyrdom in an accidental grenade blast in Mendhar sector of Poonch district last night. The Army has ordered a Court of Inquiry into the incident.
Reports said the accidental blast took place at around 10.30 pm in Mendhar sector, close to the Line of Control (LoC), in Poonch district when the Army team was heading for night patrolling along with arms, ammunition and explosives to ward off any possibility of infiltration attempt.
“Night patrolling along the LoC is regular feature which is carried out daily to ensure that the militants don’t manage to infiltrate into the Indian territory,’’ the officials said, adding one of the grenades went off when the jawans were heading for the patrol, leading to an explosion.
Two soldiers were injured and later attained martyrdom in the Command Hospital Udhampur where they were airlifted with splinter injuries.
Army identified them as Capt Anand hailing from KN Jha Lane in Champa Nagar of Bhagalpur, Bihar and Naib Subedar Bhagwan Singh of village Pokhar Bhitta in Ambedkar Nagar district of Uttar Pradesh.
Soon after the blast, senior Army officials rushed to the spot.
Bodies of the martyrs have been shifted to their native places.
The Army has ordered a Court of Inquiry into the accidental grenade blast.
The General Officer Commanding (GOC) White Knight Corps and all ranks have saluted the bravehearts for their supreme sacrifice in the line of duty.
“The nation shall forever remain indebted to the bravehearts for their supreme sacrifice,” an Army handout said.
Though there has been lull on the LoC in twin border districts of Rajouri and Poonch since February last year when Indo-Pak troops revised ceasefire agreement for LoC as well as International Border, the Army is not taking any chances to ensure that there is no successful intrusion bid.
Only last week, the Army foiled major infiltration attempt on the LoC in Poonch sector pushing back the intruders who were trying to enter into this side.
As per the officials, the ceasefire agreement is being maintained by both the sides but on some occasions the Pakistani troops have been seen facilitating infiltration attempts by the militants besides smuggling of arms, ammunition and explosives through drones etc.
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