A Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO) of the Indian Army was killed during an encounter with terrorists along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu’s Akhnoor sector, officials reported on Saturday. The infiltration attempt, however, was successfully thwarted by alert troops.
According to defense sources, late Friday night, army surveillance teams detected suspicious movement near a stream in the dense forested area of Keri Bhattal, close to the LoC. A group of heavily armed militants was attempting to infiltrate across the border when soldiers intercepted them, sparking an intense exchange of gunfire that continued for an extended period.
During the encounter, a JCO sustained critical injuries and later succumbed, officials confirmed. Following the clash, the army quickly cordoned off the area, deployed reinforcements, and launched a search operation, which was still underway at the time of the last update.
This infiltration bid marks the second deadly encounter in the same area in recent months. On February 11, two army personnel — including a captain — lost their lives, and another soldier was wounded when terrorists triggered an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) during a similar security operation in Keri Bhattal.
The latest confrontation unfolded just two days after India and Pakistan held a brigade commander-level flag meeting in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch district. The meeting, part of ongoing efforts to strengthen border management and ease tensions, was the second of its kind since February, following a spate of ceasefire violations and cross-border incidents, including the February IED attack.
The Indian side reportedly registered a strong protest during the discussions, condemning both the recent infiltration attempts and the violations of the ceasefire agreement along the LoC.
It is worth noting that since India and Pakistan reaffirmed the 2003 ceasefire arrangement on February 25, 2021, incidents of cross-border firing have significantly declined, making these recent skirmishes all the more concerning.
Earlier this month, on April 5, Border Security Force (BSF) personnel shot dead a Pakistani intruder along the International Border in the R S Pura sector of Jammu. The incident prompted an immediate flag meeting between the BSF and Pakistan Rangers to address the breach.
As security forces continue search operations in Akhnoor’s forested belt, the army remains on high alert, anticipating possible further infiltration attempts as the snow melts and traditional infiltration routes reopen with the onset of spring.