India to strike Pak back hard

India on Friday condemned the ceasefire violations by Pakistan, and the ministry of external affairs said the country would get a befitting response.

There are indications that India will go in for massive retaliatory firing on the border against Pakistani military positions.

On Thursday, BSF director general K.K. Sharma had directed his field commanders to retaliate with full force.

Two civilians and a BSF jawan were killed and 23 others, including two BSF personnel, were injured in a heavy mortar shelling by Pakistan, along the International Border (IB), in three districts of Jammu and Kashmir, officials said on Friday.

The heavy shelling took place in Jammu, Samba and Kathua districts. The Pakistani troops also violated the ceasefire along the Line of Control (LoC) in Rajouri district of the Jammu region.

Later in the day, India summoned Pakistan deputy High Commissioner Syed Haider Shah and conveyed “grave concerns” at the continued ceasefire violations and deliberate targeting of innocent civilians by the Pakistan forces.

Mr Shah was summoned by the joint secretary in the Pakistan division.

The external affairs ministry has registered its “strong protest” at the loss of three innocent civilian lives besides injuries to nine other civilians.