4 landmines, one mortar shell explode near LoC in Poonch; no casualties

On Wednesday, around 12.15 pm four land mine blasts were reported at Forward Balakote post along the LoC by a bomb disposal squad of the Army’s 120 Brigade

Four landmines and a mortar shell exploded near the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch district without causing any harm to human lives, said officials on Thursday.

The landmines were activated by a bomb disposal squad after they were found dislocated from the anti-infiltration obstacle system due to recent heavy rain, officials said. (Representative)

“Around 3.40 pm on Thursday, a mortar shell exploded in a field of Kabir Hussain in Sagra village in Tehsil Mankote,” said a police officer. The man was using a JCB to excavate his land when the mortar shell exploded, said the officer.

Hussain, however, escaped unhurt. The mortar shell apparently remained unexploded during cross-border shelling, the officials said.

On Wednesday, around 12.15 pm four land mine blasts were reported at Forward Balakote post along the LoC by a bomb disposal squad of the Army’s 120 Brigade.

The landmines were activated by a bomb disposal squad after they were found dislocated from the anti-infiltration obstacle system due to recent heavy rain, officials said.