Poonch LoC: Four killed in IED blast on Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir side, vigilance heightened

Four residents from Pakistan-controlled Jammu and Kashmir lost their lives in a powerful IED explosion on Monday, as reported by Hindustan Times. The blast occurred near the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch district, specifically in the Salotri area close to Nangi Tekri. The victims identified as Faizan Sagheer, Ishtiaq, Waqas Sharief, and Asim Rafiq were reportedly cousins from Battal Mandhol village. They were working on laying water pipes on the Pakistani side of the LOC when the explosion took place.

The incident led to heightened security on the Indian side of the border, with an alert issued to prevent any potential security breaches. Preliminary information from the border suggests that none of the deceased had prior involvement in terror activities. In another development, Indian Army troops discovered two rusted landmines near the border fence in Mendhar sector's Basoni area during construction work.

Both devices were defused by Army experts through controlled explosions. In the past week alone, around a dozen landmines have been detected and neutralized by the Indian Army in the forward areas along the LoC. These landmines are strategically placed to deter infiltration, but heavy rains sometimes expose them, posing a potential risk to the local population.