A soldier was killed on the Line of Control in Nowshera sector of Jammu region after Pakistan army initiated unprovoked firing on the Indian Army posts this morning.

Defence Ministry spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Manish Mehta, said: “The Pakistan Army initiated unprovoked firing on Indian Army posts in Naushera sector around 5.15 a.m. on Friday. The Indian Army retaliated strongly and effectively.” 

Naik Bakhtawar Singh, 34, was severely injured in the fire exchange and died on the way to the Military hospital. Singh, who is from Punjab, is survived by his wife Jasbir Kaur and three children — two sons and one daughter.  The wreath-laying ceremony will be held tomorrow at Rajouri district, 177 km from Srinagar. The body of the soldier will be then taken to his native village, where the funeral will take place.

The exchange of fire has intensified since yesterday. Pakistani Army pounded forward posts and civilians areas along the Line of Control in Rajouri and Poonch district of Jammu division with mortar bombs and fired small and automatic weapons as it violated ceasefire twice in a day, prompting Indian posts to retaliate strongly.

There have been 12 ceasefire violations in past five days and a total 15 along the LoC since 1 January in which one civilian died and seven others were injured. 

“Pakistan Army resorted to indiscriminate firing of mortars and small arms, automatic weapons from 17.30 hours from Thursday in Naushera sector along the LoC of Rajouri district”, Manish Mehta said. Indian Army posts retaliated strongly and effectively and the firing is presently on, he said.

Earlier the Pakistani troops initiated indiscriminate firing of mortars and small arms, automatic weapons from 14.00 hours in Naushera sector along the LoC which continued till 15.30 hours.  Two Pakistani soldiers were killed on Thursday in retaliatory fire after they breached the truce, targeting forward posts and civilians areas along the LoC in Rajouri and Poonch districts. There were three ceasefire violations by Pakistan on 12 June, four on 11 June and one on 10 June.

The firing along the border has continued even as the increasing number of militants are trying to sneak into the Indian side. Six  militants were earlier killed after Army foiled an infiltration bid  at Uri as they were trying to sneak into this side. The Army has stepped up the vigil and the combing operations. Indian Army launched a punitive strike on 9 May and destroyed two Pakistan army bunkers across the LoC. On 23 May, the army also released a video of the military action that showed heavy artillery destroying bunkers and shelters. Since then the incidents of cross border skirmishes have only intensified.

Guest