17-yr-old girl, jawan killed in firing across LoC

SRINAGAR: A 17-year-old girl and an army jawan were killed in fresh ceasefire violation by Pakistan along the Line of Control (LoC) in North Kashmir’s Uri district on Saturday.

Pakistan troops fired at forward Indian posts in Kamalkot area which resulted in the deaths, an army spokesperson said.

The girl has been identified as Gulshan Bano.

“The violations started at approximately 5.15 pm, drawing appropriate retaliation from Indian soldiers,” an army official said.

The Pakistan Rangers then resorted to mortar shelling and fired through automatic weapons at forward posts of the Indian army, which responded “appropriately”.

The ongoing ceasefire violations, which claimed 7 lives and injured over 55 last month, are significant as the state is heading for elections spread over five phases, starting November 25.

Sources said the firing is meant to create tension in the Valley ahead of polls and give covering fire to militants try- ing to cross over before snow blocks the passes.

While Pakistan Rangers violated the ceasefire several times in October in Jammu area, the border areas in Kashmir division remained relatively calm.

However, t he violations increased during Diwali along the international border in Samba, Kathua and Jammu districts of Jammu and Kashmir.