SOLIDER KILLED IN LOC FIRING

JAMMU: A soldier was killed and four other army men, including a lieutenant, were injured in exchange of fire between Indian and Pakistani forces on the Line of Control in Krishna Ghati (KG) sector of Poonch district in Jammu and Kashmir Tuesday.

“Pakistan army initiated unprovoked and indiscriminate firing of small arms, automatics and mortars from 7am. Indian Army has retaliated strongly, effectively and proportionately to the unprovoked ceasefire violation,” defence spokesperson Col NN Joshi said, adding the exchange lasted till 8.30am.

Sepoy Mustapure Shubham Suryakant, 20, was grievously injured and later succumbed to his injuries at the military hospital, the spokesperson said.

The deceased jawan was a resident of Konerwadi village in Parbhani district, Maharashtra, and is survived by his mother Sunita.“(He) was a brave and sincere soldier. The nation will always remain indebted to him for his supreme sacrifice and devotion to duty,” Joshi said.

A senior officer said that a lieutenant and two junior commissioned officers were among the injured and they were airlifted to command hospital in Udhampur district. For the third consecutive day, Pakistani troops have violated the ceasefire and targeted forward posts and villages in the twin districts of Poonch and Rajouri. With the latest killing, the death toll in the Pakistani shelling along the LoC this year has gone up to 27.

The dead included 13 security personnel and five members of a family who lost their lives when a shell hit their house in Balakote sector of Poonch district on March 18. Pakistan troops have violated ceasefire along the LoC and International Border over 650 times this year, according to Indian army.

ARMY SAYS PAK INITIATED UNPROVOKED & INDISCRIMINATE FIRING IN POONCH KG SECTOR