Army major, soldier killed in Rajouri blasts

Srinagar: An Army major and a soldier were killed and two others wounded in twin blasts near the line of control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir’s Rajouri district on Friday. Separately, an Army porter was injured in a sniper attack from across the de facto border in the district.

A report received here from the frontier said that an Army vehicle (Maruti Gypsy) was moving in the forward area of Lam Pukharni area of Nowshera sector of Rajouri when an explosion took place. Three Army jawans on board were injured, the report said adding that after receiving initial treatment at a nearby medical facility the trio was airlifted to the Army command hospital at the garrison town of Udhampur where one of the jawans succumbed to his injuries later.

Soon after the incident, a team of the Army led by an officer of the rank of major moved towards the area. But while in the area another blast took place, killing the officer on the spot and injuring a few soldiers.

The police confirmed the incident and said that together with the Army it is trying to ascertain how the explosions took place, whether IEDs had been planted in the area or it was act of a Border Action Team (BAT) of Pakistan or the infiltrators.  

The Army in a statement said that at around 3 pm an IED explosion took place in the area in which an Army officer and a soldier were grievously injured. “Immediate resuscitation and medical aid was provided. However, they succumbed to their injuries,” it said.

Earlier an Army porter identified as Hem Raj of Dadal village was injured when he was hit at by a Pakistani sniper attack in Sunderbani area of the LoC.