Army jawan killed in border shelling

An jawan was killed in Pakistani shelling and firing in Sunderbani sector of the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir’s Rajouri district on Thursday evening.

The Army on Friday alleged that the Pakistani troops violated the November 2003 ceasefire understanding by resorting to unprovoked firing and shelling at a couple of places, targeting the Indian forward position in this sector overnight.

The firing started at 7 pm on Thursday and continued through Friday, the Army said adding that the Indian troops retaliated “befittingly.”

Later during the day on Friday, exchange of fire between facing border guards was reported also from Hiranagar sector of the International Border (IB) in Kathua district. No casualties were reported on either side as reports last came in.

Earlier on Wednesday, Indian and Pakistani troops had clashed in Kirni sector along the LoC) in Poonch district, leaving, at least, three civilians injured in PoK. The officials in Poonch had said that the Indian troops retaliated to this ceasefire violation by the Pakistani troops “befittingly and effectively”.

In Muzaffarabad, the PoK authorities had alleged that the cross-LoC shelling and firing was initiated by the Indian troops and their Pakistani counterparts only reacted to it by firing the same calibre weapons.

Meanwhile, a suspected militant was gunned down by the security forces during massive search operation underway in several villages of the twin districts of Rajouri and Poonch since May 28. The police said that the clash took place in Kalakote belt of Rajouri on Thursday night. “At least, two-three terrorists were learnt hiding in Mehari village of the area. The security forces quickly moved in to take on them,” said Inspector General of Police (Jammu range) Mukesh Singh. He added that the encounter between the two sides had started late Thursday night and that the identity of the slain man who appeared to be a foreigner was being ascertained.

Earlier this week, the Indian Army had said that it foiled a series of infiltrations bids.