Agniveer dies, 2 soldiers hurt as landmine goes off in J&k

JAMMU: An Army Agniveer lost his life and two other soldiers were injured Friday when a landmine meant to check infiltration went off accidentally near the LoC in Krishna Ghati area of J&K's Poonch, reports Sanjay Khajuria.

Agniveer Lalit Kumar of 7 JAT Regiment was on patrol as part of area-domination exercises with colleagues when the explosion occurred in the zone lashed by rain in the past few days, official sources said. It was not clear yet where Lalit hailed from.

Havaldar Gajindera Singh and Subedar Hari Ram were airlifted to Army Hospital in Udhampur, around 300km away.

The stretch along the LoC in J&K is dotted with landmines as a part of an Anti-Infiltration Obstacle System (AIOS). A few stray mines are sometimes washed away by rain and go off accidentally on contact, official sources said.

"WhiteKnightCorps and all ranks pay solemn tribute to Agniveer Lalit Kumar, who made the supreme sacrifice. We stand with the bereaved family in this hour of grief," the Army's White Knight Corps posted on X.