Daijiworld Media Network - Jammu

Jammu, Apr 6: A 27-year-old soldier from Rajasthan, identified as Vijay Kumar, tragically lost his life due to an accidental discharge from his service rifle while on duty in the Kishtwar district of Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday, officials said.

The soldier was found in a critical condition and rushed to the hospital, where doctors declared him dead on arrival. A case has been registered, and police said that preliminary investigation suggests the death occurred due to accidental firing.

The incident comes amid heightened security alert across Jammu division, including Kishtwar, Doda, Rajouri, Poonch, Kathua, Udhampur, and Ramban, following recent terror activity in the region.

On March 23, five terrorists were spotted in Sanyal village, Kathua. In the encounter that followed, two terrorists were neutralised, but four local policemen were martyred. The remaining terrorists were later engaged in Safiyan Jakhole village in a continued operation.

Security forces, including Army Para commandos and CRPF personnel, are currently deployed in higher reaches and forested zones to prevent further infiltration or hit-and-run attacks by Pakistan-backed terrorists.

Recent intelligence has confirmed the presence of foreign mercenaries in border districts such as Poonch, Rajouri, and Kathua. In response, the joint forces have revised their strategy to crack down on terrorists, overground workers (OGWs), and sympathisers, who, according to Lt Governor Manoj Sinha, are part of the larger terror ecosystem operating from across the border.