Army JCO Died in Gunfight With Infiltrators Near LoC in J&K’s Akhnoor Sector
An Indian Army Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO), who was critically injured during a gunfight with Pakistani infiltrators near the Line of Control (LoC) in the Akhnoor sector of Jammu, succumbed to his injuries on Saturday. The encounter had erupted late Friday night in the Keri Battal area, after alert troops intercepted suspicious movement close to the border.
According to officials, a group of heavily armed terrorists was attempting to infiltrate across the LoC when they were challenged by Indian forces. A fierce gunfight ensued, during which the JCO sustained grave injuries. Despite being swiftly evacuated for treatment, the officer could not be saved.
The Army has not yet released the identity of the deceased officer, but sources said he was part of a patrol team monitoring the LoC in light of increased infiltration attempts.
Just hours after the Akhnoor incident, Pakistan violated the ceasefire agreement in the Poonch sector. Around 11:30 pm on April 11, Pakistani troops opened unprovoked fire at the Indian Army’s Hathi Post. The exchange continued until 12:30 am. The Indian side retaliated strongly. No casualties were reported in this engagement.
These events follow a spate of escalations along the LoC and come even as the Army continues a high-intensity counter-terrorism operation in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kishtwar district. The operation entered its fourth consecutive day on Saturday and has already resulted in the deaths of three terrorists.
Security forces, braving treacherous terrain and snow-covered mountains, eliminated two terrorists in fresh encounters on Saturday. One terrorist had been neutralised a day earlier. Weapons recovered include an AK-47 and an M4 rifle.
Officials suspect more militants are still hiding in the area, and search operations are ongoing. The Kishtwar encounter is part of a larger security push in the Jammu region, which has seen five major encounters in the last 19 days across Kathua, Udhampur, and Kishtwar.
The intensified operations have come at a cost. Four police personnel have died in these gunfights, while three others and a civilian girl have been injured.
Meanwhile, ceasefire violations from across the border appear to be a recurring strategy to facilitate terrorist infiltration. On April 1, Pakistan had opened fire in the Poonch sector to aid another infiltration attempt. Indian forces responded with heavy fire, reportedly killing four to five Pakistani soldiers
