STATE TIMES NEWS
NEW DELHI: In a strong message to Pakistan Army which violated ceasefire in Jammu and Kashmir’s Rajouri and Poonch districts on Thursday, the Indian forces launched retaliatory assaults, killing five and injuring six of their soldiers.
The Indian Army opened fire on Pakistani posts on the other side of the LoC in Bhimber and Battal sectors after the ceasefire violation earlier in the day. Pakistan had resorted to mortar shelling and firing on forward posts along the LoC in Nowshera sector in Rajouri district and Krishnagati sector of Poonch early on Thursday morning. The assault had claimed the life of a GREF labourer, while two BSF jawans were wounded. The Indian Army countered strongly and effectively to the breach of truce, killing five Pakistani soldiers and injuring six others.
Meanwhile, the Pakistan Foreign Office has summoned deputy High Commissioner J P Singh about the firing at LoC. Pakistan had issued a statement that India had resorted to “unprovoked” firing earlier in the day, which had allegedly injured three people.
The firing and shelling by the Pakistan Army in May this year has affected over 12,000 people. On May 17, the Pakistan Army had fired on forward posts along the LoC in Balakote sector in Rajouri district.
The Pakistan Army had shelled forward areas and civilian belts along the LoC in Rajouri district on May 15 and 16. The Pakistani Army had on May 13 pounded civilian areas and forward posts along the LoC in Nowshera area with mortars, killing two civilians and injuring three.
Meanwhile, Army Chief General Bipin Rawat arrived at Srinagar on Thursday to review the security situation and operational preparedness of the armed forces posted in Kashmir and along the Line of Control.
“Gen Rawat and some senior Army officers arrived at Badamibagh Cantonment area this morning for a routine day-long visit,” an Army official said.
He said the purpose of the Army Chief’s visit was to review the security situation and operational preparedness in the Valley.
“The Chief of Army Staff is being briefed by Corps Commander and other top officers about the situation in the Valley, especially after killing of top Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist Sabzar Bhat.
Pak summons Indian envoy
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Thursday summoned the Indian Deputy High Commissioner in Islamabad over fresh ceasefire violations on the Line of Control, that it said have killed two Pakistani civilians and injured six others. The Foreign Office said in a statement that Director General Mohammad Faisal (South Asia and Saarc Desk), summoned Deputy High Commissioner J.P. Singh and condemned the “unprovoked” ceasefire violation by Indian forces on Thursday in Battal, Jandrot and Kotli sectors.
