Four terrorists, including a top commander of the proscribed terror outfit Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT), were reportedly killed in a landmine blast near the Line of Control (LoC) in the Krishna Ghati sector of Poonch district in Jammu and Kashmir on Monday.
The terrorists had allegedly infiltrated Indian territory and were planning a major attack. The powerful explosion was heard across a wide area, prompting the Army and the Border Security Force (BSF) to issue a high alert at forward posts and further tighten security along the LoC.
All Four Terrorists Reportedly from PoJK
Officials said the powerful explosion occurred near Satwal-Naki village along the LoC on Monday. At the time of the blast, a group of infiltrators was reportedly seen moving from Pakistani territory towards the Indian side of the border.
While the number of infiltrators killed or injured in the explosion has not been officially confirmed, sources said the terrorists killed in the blast were residents of Mandala and Madarpur villages in Hajira tehsil of Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK). They identified the deceased as Mohammad Faizan, a top Lashkar-e-Taiba commander, and Mohammad Ishtiaq, Mohammad Waqas and Mohammad Asim.
Pakistani Social Media Post Claims Terrorists Killed
A post on Pakistani social media has surfaced claiming that terrorists were killed in the explosion. Meanwhile, Indian officials said the army activated its surveillance systems immediately after the blast to prevent further infiltration attempts and thwart potential security threats.
Reports said the powerful explosion occurred in the Satwal-Naki area of the Krishna Ghati sector along the LoC in Poonch district on Monday. Security forces subsequently intensified surveillance and alertness in the area.
Satwal-Naki Considered a Traditional Infiltration Route
Satwal-Naki is considered a traditional infiltration route, with security forces having reported previous attempts by terrorists to cross into Indian territory through the area.
Officials also recalled an earlier incident in which six to seven members of Pakistan’s Border Action Team (BAT) were reportedly killed in a similar incident in the sector.
Two Rusted Landmines Destroyed in Mendhar
In a separate incident, Army personnel detected two rusted landmines near the border fence in the Basoni area of the Mendhar sector.
Officials said the devices were spotted during track construction today. Army experts subsequently destroyed both mines in controlled explosions.