Suspected IED explodes in J-K’s Poonch, several feared dead; security heightened

The powerful blast reportedly took place in the Satwal-Naki area near the zero line while a group of people was moving along the Pakistani side of the LoC (Photo: AP).

NEW DELHI: An explosion by a suspected improvised explosive device (IED) was heard in a forward village along the Line of Control in the Krishna Ghati sector of Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch district on Monday, triggering heightened security measures, officials said.The powerful blast reportedly took place in the Satwal-Naki area near the zero line while a group of people was moving along the Pakistani side of the LoC, officials said. PTI reported.Casualties were reported, but the exact number of people killed or injured was not immediately known, they added.Officials said it was unclear whether the group comprised suspected terrorists attempting to cross the LoC or Pakistani security personnel patrolling the area. The circumstances leading to the explosion were yet to be established.

Security heightened

Following the blast, security forces sounded an alert across the sector and stepped up vigilance along the LoC to assess the situation and prevent any potential security breach, officials said.

In a separate incident, Indian Army troops detected two rusted landmines near the border fence in the Basoni area of the Mendhar sector on Monday.The landmines were spotted during track construction at 8.25 am and 12.10 pm, respectively, officials said. Both devices were subsequently destroyed by Army experts in controlled explosions.Around a dozen landmines have been detected and defused by the Army in the area over the past week.Forward areas along the LoC are dotted with landmines as part of an anti-infiltration system. However, heavy rainfall can sometimes wash the mines away, causing them to surface in areas where they could pose a potential risk.