Tragedy at the Border: Two Soldiers Martyred in Suspected Terrorist IED Blast in Akhnoor

On February 11, 2025, a suspected improvised explosive device (IED) blast rocked the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir’s Akhnoor sector, claiming the lives of two Indian Army personnel, including a captain, and leaving another soldier injured. The incident occurred during a routine fence patrol in the Laleali area of Bhattal, near a forward post, at approximately 3:50 pm. According to official statements from the Nagrota-based White Knight Corps, the explosion was triggered by an IED suspected to have been planted by Pakistani terrorists, marking yet another attempt to destabilize the region. The patrol team, engaged in securing the volatile border area, was caught in the blast’s radius, leading to critical injuries for three soldiers. The injured were swiftly evacuated to a nearby military hospital, where two personnel, including the captain, succumbed to their wounds. The third soldier remains under medical care, with officials confirming his condition as stable and “out of danger” 358. The White Knight Corps, responsible for security operations in the region, paid tribute to the fallen soldiers in a social media post, stating, “Own troops are dominating the area and search operations are underway”. This attack coincided with heightened military vigilance along the LoC. Just a day prior, Lieutenant General Navin Sachdeva, General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the White Knight Corps, conducted an operational review of forward areas in the Rajouri sector. Accompanied by senior commanders, he assessed the security landscape amid escalating “hostile activities,” including cross-border firing incidents and intelligence reports of nearly 100 terrorists stationed in launch pads across the LoC. The visit followed a recent skirmish in the Keri sector, where an Army patrol came under fire from suspected terrorists hiding in forests across the border. The Akhnoor sector, a strategically sensitive stretch of the LoC, has long been a hotspot for insurgent activities. Pakistani terror groups are known to frequently plant IEDs along infiltration routes to target Indian security forces. Tuesday’s blast underscores the persistent threat, with officials noting a pattern of similar attacks in the past. In a related development earlier that day, a rusted mortar shell was discovered by locals in the Pratap Canal near Namandar village. A bomb disposal squad safely defused the explosive, preventing potential casualties. Security forces have since cordoned off the blast site and launched extensive search operations to track down those responsible. Additional troops have been mobilized to comb the area, reflecting the Army’s resolve to thwart further threats. The incident has reignited concerns over the escalating use of IEDs by terrorist groups, which are often crafted from locally sourced materials to evade detection. Such devices not only target military personnel but also endanger civilians in border villages. The Jammu and Kashmir region has witnessed a surge in violence in recent weeks. On February 9, a separate IED explosion in the Pallanwalla area of Akhnoor claimed the life of Havildar Santosh Kumar and injured two others, highlighting the relentless challenges faced by security forces. Meanwhile, ceasefire violations by Pakistani troops in the Poonch district’s Shahpur sector further complicate the security dynamics, with cross-border shelling prompting retaliatory action from Indian forces. As investigations into Tuesday’s blast continue, the Army has reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining “relentless operational focus” in the region. The White Knight Corps’ public tribute to the fallen soldiers underscores the human cost of border security operations, even as the nation grapples with the complexities of safeguarding one of the world’s most militarized frontiers.