SRINAGAR An army soldier and a border security force personnel were killed and three others including an officer were injured as India and Pakistan armies exchange fire along the Line of Control (LoC) in Kupwara and Rajouri districts on Thursday.
Army officials told a local news agency GNS that Pakistan army attacked posts of 57 RR in Kumkadi area in Machil at around 11:00 a.m. The troops manning the fence retaliated, triggering off a brief exchange of cross border shelling and firing. In about 20 minutes of firing and shelling, they said, three soldiers including JCO suffered serious injuries and were evacuated to military hospital Drugmulla.
The trio were later shifted to army’s 92 base hospital Badamibagh, Srinagar, however, one among them, Signal Operator Rajesh Kumar succumbed on the way to the hospital.
The other two injured identified as Naib Subedar Jitender Singh and Naik Verender Pratab were operated upon by the doctors in the military hospital.
Official sources said that the Pakistani army also attacked Roshni Post manning by the army’s 56 RR in Machil sector at around 6:30 pm. The India troops returned the fire triggering off an exchange of shelling which continued for 15 minutes.
Army’s Srinagar-based defence spokesperson Col Rajesh Kalia also confirmed the killing of the soldier.
“Ceasefire violation by Pakistan in Machil Sector of Kupwara district took place today at around 1045 hours. Own troops retaliated strongly. One soldier was killed in enemy fire, Kalia said.
Meanwhile, a Border Security Force (BSF) man was killed and another was injured critically in cross-border shelling along the Line of Control (LoC) in Sunderbani sector of Rajouri district of Jammu region on Thursday evening.
BSF spokesperson said that Pakistani army in violation of ceasefire attacked the posts of 126 bn of BSF along the border in Sunderbani sector at around 3:50 pm. “The BSF troops retaliated the fire effectively and about 4:30 pm two jawans suffered injuries and were evacuated for treatment”.
Among the injured constable Paranjit Biswas succumbed in the hospital, he said.
Sources identified the other injured as constable Mansa Ram.
When reports last came in, the intermittent exchange of firing was going on.
Meanwhile, the armies of India and Pakistan exchanged fire along the Line of Control (LoC) intermittently during last night in Uri area of north Kashmir’s Baramulla district.
Official sources said that Pakistan army targeted Indian posts by firing with automatic weapons and shelling.
The Indian army retaliated, leading to an exchange of fire that continued intermittently throughout the night.
In the shelling, one residential house and a shed of Hakim Ali Mir of Bathard Kundi Barjala Kamalkote got damaged. However, no loss of life or injuries were reported in the exchange.
Sub-District Magistrate, Uri Baseer ul Haq said that the affected family has been shifted to safety. He, however, added that concerned authorities have been directed to shift the people for safer places in case situation warrants so.
In view of the shelling, the cross LoC trade via Uri has been suspended for a day as a precautionary measure, he said.
On Wednesday, two army soldiers identified as Sepoy Dupo Veshunath and Naik M Walim of 8 Rashtriya Rifles were injured in the firing exchange who were later hospitalised.
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