SRINAGAR: A Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO) of the Indian Army lost his life during a fierce gun battle with infiltrators along the Line of Control (LoC) in the Akhnoor sector of Jammu late Friday night. According to official sources, the infiltration attempt was successfully repelled by alert troops.
The incident occurred in the densely forested Keri Bhattal region when soldiers observed suspicious movement near a stream close to the forward posts. A group of armed terrorists, attempting to cross into Indian territory under the cover of darkness, was intercepted by the Army. When challenged, the intruders opened fire, triggering an intense exchange that lasted several hours.
During the confrontation, one JCO sustained critical injuries. He was immediately evacuated for treatment but tragically succumbed to his wounds. Reinforcements were rushed to the area, and a comprehensive combing operation was launched to ensure no infiltrator managed to escape. As of the latest reports, the area remains sealed and the search continues.
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This is not the first time the Keri Bhattal zone has witnessed such violence. On February 11, two Army personnel, including a young captain, were killed and another soldier was injured when terrorists detonated an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) in the same locality.
The latest skirmish comes just 48 hours after a brigade-level flag meeting was convened between Indian and Pakistani military commanders in Poonch. The discussions focused on better coordination and resolving tensions that have emerged along the border in recent months.
This was the second such meeting this year, part of a continuing effort to maintain calm after a string of ceasefire breaches and terror-linked incidents that have unsettled peace in the region. The Indian side conveyed strong objections regarding repeated violations and cross-border terror infiltration attempts, urging their counterparts to uphold commitments made in previous dialogues.
Although the 2021 agreement to renew ceasefire understanding along the LoC had brought a significant reduction in hostilities, recent months have seen a troubling resurgence of aggression.
In a related development on April 5, Border Security Force (BSF) jawans shot dead a Pakistani national attempting to illegally enter through the R S Pura sector. A flag meeting was later held with Pakistani Rangers to address the violation.
Security forces remain on high alert across LoC and border zones, with intensified surveillance and deployment in vulnerable areas to prevent further escalations.
