Second soldier killed in Pak firing in 2 days

JAMMU: A soldier was killed in Pakistani firing along the Line of Control in Nowshera sector of Rajouri district on Sunday, Indian Army said.

Naik Gosavi Keshav Somgir was the second soldier killed in unprovoked Pakistani firing from across the LOC in two days.

“Pakistan Army resorted to an unprovoked ceasefire violation in Nowhera sector on the LOC in Rajouri around 2.45 pm on Sunday,” said defence spokesman Lt Col Devender Anand.

Somgir was critically injured in the firing and succumbed to the gunshot wounds in an army hospital, he added.

The 29-year-old belonged to Sri Rampur village in Maharashtra’s Nashik district. He is survived by his wife Yashoda Gosavi. “Naik Gosavi Keshav Somgir was a brave and sincere soldier. The nation will always remain indebted to him for the supreme sacrifice and devotion to duty,” said Anand. Army has retaliated strongly and effectively on Pakistan Army posts, he said adding the martyrdom of the soldier will not go in vain.

Meanwhile, a policeman said the soldier — of 24 Maratha Regiment near Raja Post — was hit by spier fire from across the border.

There has been a spike in sniper attacks on the LOC in the last one week. On Saturday, rifleman Varun Katal, from Samba, was killed in cross-border sniper fire in the Sunderbani sector. On Sunday, his body was cremated with full honours at his village Mawa-rajpura.

Over the last three days, there have been continuous incidents of ceasefire violation by Pakistani troops along the LOC in Jammu. On Saturday, three soldiers were injured in Pakistani firing in Pallanwala, while a civilian was killed in Pargwal on Friday.