An army captain and three soldiers were killed and five others including a minor and a teenage girl were wounded as India and Pakistan armies exchanged heavy fire along Line of Control in Poonch and Rajouri districts on Sunday.
Army’s Nagrota-based spokesman in a statement said, “Pakistan army initiated unprovoked and indiscriminate firing of small arms, automatics, mortars and missiles from 1530 hours in BhimberGali along the LoC. Indian army retaliated strongly and effectively and heavy damage has been inflicted on Pakistani army posts.”
“In the exchange of fire, one officer and three soldiers were grievously injured. They succumbed to their injuries on way to hospital. The unprovoked action by Pakistani army will be given a befitting response,” the statement added.
The deceased were identified as captainKapilKundu of village Ransika of Gurgaon, rifleman Ramavatar of village Baraka in Gwalior, rifleman Subham Singh of village MukandPurChoudharian, Kathua Jammu, havaldarRoshanLal, of village Nicholas, Ghagwal in Jammu’s Samba district.
A source said, “Couple of mortar shells hit the post at about 6 pm in which five soldiers were present. Four of them succumbed while another one is critical.”
The source said that heavy shelling took place in the affected area from JhimGarh fort to TarkundiGali from 5 pm to 6:30 pm.
A police official said, “In another ceasefire violation by Pakistan in Rajouri district six mortars exploded near NeakaPanjgrain and Tarkundi villages in Manjakote sector around 3:40 pm.”
“The mortars were fired by Pakistani troops and the Indian forces guarding the LoC responded, triggering an exchange of fire between the two sides,” he added.
CHIEF MINISTER CONDOLES
CM Mehbooba Mufti condoled the demise of soldiers and expressed sympathies with the bereaved families. “Pained to hear that soldiers were killed along the LoC. My condolences,” she wrote on Twitter.
SCHOOLS ALONG LOC CLOSED
Meanwhile, district administration announced closure of all schools for three days within five kilometres of the Line of Control (LoC) in Rajouri district.
“All 84 schools located in 0-5 km from the LoC stretch from Sunderbani to Manjakote shall remain closed for the next three days,” the deputy commissioner RajouriDrShahid Iqbal said.
In January, schools along the International Border and the LoC in five districts — Jammu, Samba, Kathua, Rajouri and Poonch — were closed for over a fortnight because of firing and shelling along the LoC.
MINOR, TEENAGE GIRL AMONG INJURED
A source said that YaseenArif, 6, son of Muhammad Arif of Shahpur and GulzanBano, 14, daughter of Abdul Rashid were hit by shells in Poonch district and they are undergoing treatment at Poonch hospital.
He said another army soldier deployed on LoC duty in Poonch’sShahpur also sustained injuries in the shelling and is undergoing treatment. Another Assistant Sub Inspector of Border Security Force was hit by a shell in Sunderbani area on LoC. His condition is stated to be stable.
Reports said that heavy exchange of fire has caused massive loss to the property and a few residential houses along the LoC have suffered extensive damage. The intermittent firing was on when this report was filed.