Army porter injured in mine blast in Rajouri

Rajouri, January 10

A civilian working as porter with an Army unit deployed in Rajouri district received splinter injuries when an abandoned mine exploded on a foot track near the Line of Control in the Keri sector.

The porter identified as Khalid Hussain, a resident of Kailesh under the Rajouri police station, was provided immediate medical aid at the nearest Army health centre and later was shifted to the Army hospital in Rajouri.

Sources said the porter was going from the base camp at Bharat Gala to a forward post when he inadvertently put his foot on an abandoned mine and it exploded instantly injuring him seriously.

Khalid Hussain was working as a porter with Sikh Li unit for the last many months. In the month of August last year, another porter working with this unit, Safeer Ahmed Khan, a resident of Mendhar (Poonch district), went missing and was never traced.

The Rajouri police are investigating but the Army reportedly informed the police that he might have crossed over to PoK while his family members have expressed their apprehension about foul play.

On August 10, porter Mohammed Sharief of Keri (Thathyali) was injured in the same sector in an abandoned mine blast and was hospitalised. — OC