SrinagarIn their continued skirmishes at border, India and Pakistan armies traded fire and mortar shells along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch district on Saturday resulting into death of a soldier and a middle aged woman.
A defence spokesman said the Pakistan army initiated the unprovoked firing on the Indian Army posts at around 5 PM today.
“The Indian Army retaliated strongly and effectively, he said.
In the exchange of fire, Naib Subedar Jagram Singh Tomar (42), resident of Madhya Pradesh, was grievously injured and later succumbed to injuries, the spokesman said.
Tomar, who hailed from Tarsana village in Morena district in MP, is survived by his wife Omavati Devi, a son and a daughter, he said.
“He was a brave and sincere soldier. The nation will always remain indebted to him for the supreme sacrifice and devotion to duty,” he added.
Earlier in the day, a 40-year-old woman was killed in Gohlad Kalran village after the Pakistani army resorted to indiscriminate firing for nearly one-and-a-half-hour.
“The Pakistani army initiated unprovoked and indiscriminate firing of small arms, automatic weapons and mortars from 0515 hours in Poonch sector along the LoC. The Indian Army personnel guarding the border posts retaliated strongly and effectively. The exchange of fire stopped at 0645 hours, the spokesman said.
A police officer, while giving details about the incident, said at around 5.20 AM, mortar shells fired from across the border exploded near the house of one Mohammad Shabir in the village, killing his wife Raqia Bi.
This year there have been 285 instances of ceasefire violation by the Pakistani forces. In 2016, the number was significantly less at 228.
Soldier injured in militant attack
An army soldier was injured after militants attacked an army camp in forest area of Kalaroose in frontier Kupwara district late on Friday night.
Official sources said that a group of militants attacked the camp of army’s 41 RR in the upper belt of Kalaroose forests along LoC.
“The indiscriminate fire continued on the RR camp for at least 10 minutes. The troops retaliated the fire which resulted in a brief clash”, they said.
During the incident, a soldier of 21 Jak Rifles was injured. He has been shifted to military hospital Drugmulla.
Besides 41 RR, the camp also houses troopers of other units including 21 Jak Rifles.
Soon after the attack, the army launched a massive man hunt with the help of reinforcement of para commandos on all sides adjoining the camp, they said.
The areas that have been cordoned include Upper belt of Kalaroose forests and Kunnad, Kani Behak, Manigah, Chat forest areas of Batpora Haihama.
The attack comes only three days ahead of 15 August, marking 70th independence day of India.
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