STATE TIMES NEWS
Jammu/Srinagar: A woman was injured and two houses damaged when Pakistani troops on Saturday targeted Indian posts and civilian areas along the LoC in Nowshera and Sunderbani sectors of Rajouri district with mortar bombs and small arms fire, prompting the army to give a “befitting response” while security forces killed one terrorist in Kakapora area of Pulwama district.
According to reports, two terrorists are believed to be holed up. Security forces have cordoned off the area, according to reports.
Security forces launched an anti-militancy operation after receiving a tip off about presence of terrorists at Begumbagh village in Kakapora area, a police official said.
He said hiding militants opened fire on noticing the security forces who retaliated, triggering a gunbattle.
The firing in Sunderbani sector is the second ceasefire violation by the Pakistani side in less than six hours on Saturday.
“A woman identified as Shanti Devi (55) was injured and two houses were damaged in the heavy mortar shelling by the Pakistan army in Khamba village in the Nowshera sector,” a police officer said.
He said the injured lady has been shifted to the Sub District Hospital Nowshera for treatment.
Earlier in the morning, Pakistan army resorted to ceasefire violation in the Nowshera sector and in the afternoon they started firing in the Sunderbani sector targeting Indian posts and civilian areas.
“Pakistan army resorted to unprovoked ceasefire violation in the Nowshera sector from 1030 hours using 120 mm mortars and small arms fire. Our army is giving a befitting response to the Pakistani fire,” a defence spokesman said.
“Pakistan army resorted to ceasefire violation in the Sunderbani Sector using 120 mm mortars, automatic and small arms from 1410 hrs and it is being responded to befittingly by own troops,” the spokesman said.
On Thursday, Pakistani army had targeted Indian posts and civilian villages along the LoC in the Pallanwala sector of the Jammu district.
Pakistani troops on Tuesday targeted Indian posts with heavy firing and shelling for four hours along the LoC in Rajouri in Jammu and Kashmir, forcing Indian troops to retaliate.
There has been a whopping 286 incidents of firing and shelling along the LoC and International Border(IB) in Jammu and Kashmir by Pakistani troops that have resulted in the death of 26 people, including 14 security personnel, since the surgical strike on terrorist launch pads in PoK on September 29.
Army commander visits forward areas
Srinagar: A senior Army commander on Saturday visited troops deployed in forward areas and exhorted them to work with zeal and motivation to overcome the challenges of terrorism, volatile internal security situation and external threats along the LoC.
General Officer Commanding in Chief, Northern Command, Lt Gen D S Hooda visited troops deployed in forward areas and reviewed the security situation, an Army spokesman said.
He said Lt Gen Hooda exhorted all ranks to continue to work with the same zeal and motivation to overcome the challenges of “terrorism, volatile internal security situation and external threats along the LoC”.
Later, the spokesman said the commander, accompanied by his wife Rashmi Hooda, visited Srinagar-based Chinar Corps at Badami Bagh and interacted with all ranks, complimenting them for their professionalism, steadfastness, dedication and loyalty.
He also appreciated the excellent synergy between Army, Central Armed Police Force (CAPF), Jammu and Kashmir Police and civil administration in pursuit of the common goal of establishing “peace and normalcy” in Jammu and Kashmir, the spokesman said.
He said the Army Commander also awarded Commendation cards to soldiers for exemplary dedication and devotion to duty.
Lt Gen Hooda is due to retire at the end of this month after 40 years of service in the army.
