11 soldiers killed in Rajouri, Poonch in last 20 days
*No breakthrough in Mendhar operations
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Oct 30: Two more Army soldiers including an officer were martyred and another jawan was injured in a powerful explosion close to the Line of Control (LoC) in Kalal area of Nowshera sector in Rajouri district this afternoon.
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The blast occurred even as the troops were engaged in one of the longest and biggest search operations in Bhatta Durrian forests in Mendhar tehsil of Poonch district against five to seven militants which today entered into 20th day.
An Army Lieutenant and a soldier attained martyrdom in the blast which was triggered when the troops were carrying out patrolling in forward areas of Kalal which is ahead of the border fencing in Nowshera sector of the border district of Rajouri.
Martyrs have been identified as Lieutenant Rishi Kumar and Sepoy Manjit Singh. Kumar is a resident of Begusarai in Bihar while Singh hailed from Sirvewala in Bhatinda district of Punjab.
“The nation and Indian Army shall forever remain indebted to the bravehearts for their supreme sacrifice,” Defence spokesman Lt Col Devender Anand said.
A tweet by the White Knight Corps said: “GOC White Knight Corps and all ranks salute bravehearts Lt Rishi Kumar and Sepoy Manjit Singh, who made the supreme sacrifice in line of duty along the Line of Control in Nowshera sector on 30th October and offer deep condolences to their families”.
Sources said the area where blast occurred was very close to the Line of Control with Pakistan. However, official version released by the Army said the blast was caused by the mine.
“On 30th October during an area domination patrol in Nowshera sector, a mine blast occurred, wherein, two soldiers suffered fatal injuries. Another soldier who received injuries is being treated,” the White Knight Corps, which is also known as 16 Corps headquartered at Nagrota and looks after the twin border districts of Rajouri and Poonch among others, said in another tweet.
Meanwhile, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha paid tribute to the martyrs.
Sinha also prayed for the recovery of another soldier injured in the incident.
“My tributes to the undaunting courage of Army personnel Lt Rishi Kumar & Sepoy Manjit Singh,who attained martyrdom while safeguarding India’s territorial integrity in Nowshera sector. My deepest condolences to the families of martyrs & prayers for speedy recovery of the injured,” the Lt Governor said in a tweet.
Bodies of the martyrs have been shifted to hospital and will be sent to their native towns tomorrow with full military honours. Injured jawan has been hospitalized and his condition is stated to be stable.
With two more fatal casualties, a total of 11 Army soldiers have been martyred in the border districts of Poonch and Rajouri during past 20 days.
Nine Army personnel including two Junior Commissioned Officers (JCO) have attained martyrdom in the ongoing operations in Surankote and Mendhar forests.
Searches in Chamrer forests in Surankote tehsil, surrounding Panghai jungle in Thanna Mandi and finally in Bhatta Durrian in Mendhar tehsils had started on October 11 with the martyrdom of five Army personnel, one of them a Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO).
On October 14, four more soldiers including one JCO were martyred in Bhatta Durrian forests of Mendhar in encounter with same group of the militants.
Sources told the Excelsior that the Army has intensified operations in Bhatta Durrian after clearance of large area of forest cover which has confined militants to remaining portion of jungles. However, there has been no breakthrough in eliminating or capturing the militants.
The Army has been opening firing and lobbying explosive devices targeting certain hideouts of the militants but there was no cross-firing. for past more than 10 days.
Sources, however, didn’t say whether the militants have been killed or have escaped from the forests. They said things will be clear only when the entire forest area is searched.
As reported, some part of Bhatta Durrian forests had caught fire during firing by the troops but it has been controlled now.
It may be mentioned here that Police have detained number of civilians including some who were working as Over Ground Workers (OGWs) and providing food and shelter to the militants in the forests. Their questioning is on and some vital clues have been gathered about number of militants and timing since they were hiding in the forest cover.
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