Hindustan Times (Chandigarh)

Soldier killed as Pak shells forward areas in J&K’S Rajouri

Havildar Dipak Karki is the 4th soldier to die on the Line of Control since June 5

- HT Correspond­ent

JAMMU: An Indian Army soldier was killed on Monday in unprovoked Pakistani firing along the Line of Control (LOC) in Rajouri district of Jammu and Kashmir, raising the number of soldiers who fell to cross-border firing this month to four, officials said.

Havildar Dipak Karki is the fourth soldier to die on the LOC since June 5.

Pakistan Army and Rangers personnel also targeted forward areas and posts along the LOC in Krishna Ghati sector of Poonch and along the Internatio­nal Border in Hiranagar sector in Kathua district, prompting strong retaliatio­n by the Indian forces, the officials said.

“Pakistan army resorted to unprovoked ceasefire violation along the LOC in Nowshera sector of Rajouri, causing critical injuries to Havildar Dipak Karki who later succumbed to his injuries,” defence spokespers­on Lt Col Devender Anand said.

He said the firing from across the border in the sector started at 5:30 am and was responded effectivel­y by the Indian Army. However, it was not immediatel­y clear if there was any casualties on the Pakistani side in the retaliator­y action, the officer said.

“Havildar Karki was a brave, highly motivated and a sincere soldier. The nation will always remain indebted to him for his supreme sacrifice and

The firing started at 5:30 am and the Indian Army retaliated effectivel­y. It was not immediatel­y clear if there was any casualties on the Pakistani side.

LT COL DEVENDER ANAND, defence spokespers­on

devotion to duty,” the spokespers­on said.

Two soldiers were killed in Pakistani firing in Rajouri district on June 4 and 10, while another soldier fell to cross-border firing in Poonch on June 14.

Pakistan’s army has violated the ceasefire more than 1,400 times this year. Last year, there were 3,168 ceasefire violations and 1,629 in 2018

MILITANTS HURL GRENADE AT CRPF CAMP IN PULWAMA

SRINAGAR: Militants hurled a grenade at a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) camp in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pulwama district on Monday night, but there was no casualty, officials here said.

The grenade exploded near the camp, they said.

“Militants hurled a grenade at the CRPF camp at Batagund in Tral area at around 8.30 pm. It went off, but there no fatalities,” police officials said.

The CRPF personnel fired a few rounds in the air following the blast as a precaution­ary measure. No loss of life or injury to anyone was reported in the incident.

PTI

 ??  ?? Havildar Dipak Karki
Havildar Dipak Karki

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