Grenade Explosion Caused By Mishandling At Indian Army Installation In Poonch’s Surankote Area Claims Life Of Soldier

Poonch: A grenade explosion inside an Indian Army installation in the Surankote area of Poonch district claimed the life of one soldier. The explosion occurred on Monday evening at the headquarters of 16 Rashtriya Rifles in the Draba area, reportedly due to mishandling of the grenade. After the explosion incident, the victim was shifted to the hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries.

The deceased jawan has been identified as Sepoy Bhavesh Choudhary. A probe has been launched to determine the exact cause behind the explosion. However, the Army has denied any terror link with the blast.

According to Indian Army sources, prima facie, the explosion appeared to have been caused by the mishandling of a grenade by a troop member. Sepoy Bhavesh Choudhary succumbed to injuries sustained during the blast. The Army has confirmed that there is no terror angle in this incident, and prima facie evidence suggests an accidental handling error.

An Indian Army official stated, "Today evening, one troop of Indian Army's 16 Rashtriya Rifles deployed in Draba area of Poonch's Surankot was injured in a grenade explosion. Prima facie seems to be mishandling of own grenade by troop. No terror angle in this incident."

The area was immediately cordoned off, and forensic specialists were called in to examine the spot. The teams from Jammu and Kashmir Police rushed to the site and initiated preliminary investigations. The cause of the blast is under verification, and a case has been registered, with further investigations underway.

In the meantime, the incident has raised concerns about the safety protocols in place for handling grenades and other explosives. The Indian Army is taking the incident seriously and is conducting a thorough investigation to determine the exact cause of the explosion.

The Surankote area has experienced heightened security concerns in recent times, with terrorist activities reported in the region. The security forces have been conducting aggressive operations against terrorists, their over-ground workers, and sympathizers. The incident comes amid a surge in terrorist activities in the Jammu division, including districts of Poonch, Rajouri, Doda, Kathua, Kishtwar, Reasi, and Udhampur.

The investigation is ongoing, and further details are awaited.