Army JCO injured in landmine blast during LoC patrol in Rajouri

A Junior Commissioned Officer was injured in a landmine blast during a routine patrol operation along the Line of Control in Rajouri district, Jammu and Kashmir, on Monday. Naib Subedar Hiteshwar Gogoi, serving with the 14 Assam Regiment, sustained injuries in the explosion and was immediately evacuated for medical treatment at a military facility.

The incident occurred as Gogoi and his patrol team were conducting standard operations in the border area. He was rushed to the nearest medical centre following the blast, where doctors began treating his injuries. The military has confirmed the nature of his wounds but has not disclosed specific details about his current medical condition.

Officials attribute such explosions to displaced mines in the border region, a persistent hazard that has plagued Army operations in Jammu and Kashmir for years. Landmines, some of which date back to earlier conflicts, shift and become exposed due to weather conditions, terrain changes, and other environmental factors. This makes routine patrols inherently dangerous, as soldiers cannot always predict mine locations along established routes. The Rajouri sector has witnessed multiple similar incidents in recent months, with several Army personnel sustaining injuries from mine blasts during patrol operations.

The blast underscores the ongoing security challenges faced by Indian troops stationed along the LoC. Despite advanced training and safety protocols, soldiers remain vulnerable to mine-related accidents that occur without warning. Such incidents have prompted the military to review patrol procedures and enhance detection equipment in high-risk areas.

The 14 Assam Regiment, one of the Indian Army's oldest units, has been deployed in forward positions along the LoC as part of ongoing border security operations. The injury to Gogoi marks another casualty in a series of mine-blast incidents that have affected Army personnel in the region over the past year. Military officials have urged heightened vigilance among troops conducting operations in mine-affected zones and have intensified efforts to identify and clear displaced ordnance from patrol routes.