An Army patrol was targeted by terrorists with an improvised explosive device (IED) near the Line of Control (LoC) in the Akhnoor sector of Jammu district on Tuesday afternoon, claiming the lives of Captain Karamjit Singh Bakshi and Naik Mukesh and leaving one soldier injured. This incident marks the first security fatalities in the region this year and is the third terrorist attack in four days.
According to officials, the patrol had been dispatched following intelligence inputs suggesting possible terrorist movement near Laleali in Akhnoor. After the blast, security forces swiftly cordoned off the area and launched a manhunt for the assailants. In a statement, the Army saluted the “supreme sacrifice of two gallant soldiers” and extended condolences to their bereaved families.
Escalation of Hostilities
The attack comes amid a recent spike in hostile activities along the LoC. Security sources indicate that with rising temperatures melting snow in the mountainous terrain, infiltration attempts from across the border may start earlier than usual this year, potentially leading to an early and intensified infiltration season.
Ongoing Security Measures
- Lieutenant General Navin Sachdeva, GOC, White Knight Corps, reviewed hostile activities in Rajouri on Monday. During the same day, a soldier at a forward post in Nowshera sector was wounded by a bullet fired from across the border.
- On February 8, terrorists fired at an Indian patrol from a forested area across the LoC in Keri sector, prompting retaliatory fire.
- Earlier, in the intervening night of February 4 and 5, a landmine explosion in the Krishna Ghati sector of Poonch reportedly inflicted casualties on terrorists attempting to cross the LoC (no official death toll confirmed).
Heightened Vigilance
Between May and December last year, J&K witnessed a surge in terrorist attacks, resulting in more than 30 terrorists being neutralized before the onset of harsh winter. Security forces recorded 25 fatalities during that period.
Official sources estimate that 70 to 80 Pakistani terrorists remain active in J&K, with nearly 55 to 60 concentrated in the Jammu zone. These groups, operating in small cells of three to four, are highly trained, use advanced weaponry (including M4 carbines), and rely on modern communication technologies like iridium satellite phones and thermal imagery.
The rugged terrain—marked by deep gorges, thick forests, and mountain caves—continues to provide natural cover for these groups. Despite the formidable challenges, security forces remain on high alert, reinforcing patrols, intensifying intelligence efforts, and bracing for a potentially early infiltration season in the region.
