Soldier killed, three injured in Poonch LoC explosion

, June 12: A

was killed and three others were injured in an explosion on the line of control (

) in

district on Thursday.

Defence spokesman Colonel Manish Mehta told IANS in winter capital Jammu: "A patrol of the army was targeted by a suspected improvised explosive device (IED) at approximately 8.30 a.m. today in Balakote sector of the LoC in Poonch district."

"Sepoy Shanker Singh died on the spot due to the explosion while lance Naik Mohinder Singh, sepoy Veer Singh and sepoy Surinder Singh got seriously injured. Search operations are in progress in the area," he added.

The injured soldiers have been airlifted to the army's northern command hospital in Udhampur town of Jammu region.

The exact cause of the explosion is being ascertained. Senior army officers rushed to the spot immediately after receiving information about the incident.

IANS