Jammu: A high alert was sounded across Jammu division after Army recovered an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) and mines in the forest area of Akhnoor border belt in Jammu district.

A defence official said that a potential terror strike was foiled.

According to the spokesman, suspicious movement close to an Army Unit location near the Akhnoor Market was observed by jawans last night leading to the security forces cordoning off the area.

“A search operation was conducted and during the area sanitisation process, the security forces utilising a dog squad had recovered one fully installed IED, two mines, army accoutrements and other incriminating items till now,” Colonel N N Joshi, defense PRO said.

The spokesmen also commended the alertness and vigilance of Army personnel at Akhnoor for helping avert what he said could have been a major terrorist strike on sensitive and soft targets in Akhnoor.

He said that combing operation with police is in progress, adding that security had been beefed up in and around establishments of security forces in Jammu, particularly the Akhnoor border belt.

Minister of State for Defence Dr Subhash Bhamre, is currently on a two-day visit of Jammu region and had asked the troops to maintain a high degree of alertness along the LoC in the state.

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