SRINAGAR: A BSF head constable was killed and four persons including three security personnel injured as Pakistani troops breached border ceasefire and fired on Indian posts and civilian areas along Line of Control (LoC) in twin border districts of Poonch and Rajouri in Jammu and Kashmir.
“Pakistani troops breached border ceasefire and resorted to indiscriminate firing on security forces posts and civilian areas along the LoC in Rajouri area last evening,” a BSF official said.
He said four BSF men were injured in the Pakistani troops firing.
“The injured were evacuated to hospital, where critically injured Head constable Rai Singh succumbed to injuries,” the official said.
According to him, Singh, a resident of Jhajjar district of Haryana, is survived by wife, three sons and mother.
The BSF official said the border guards also effectively returned the fire.
The Pakistani troops also breached the border ceasefire in Poonch and Rajouri districts today.
Defense spokesman in Jammu Lt Col Manish Mehta said Pakistani troops again breached border ceasefire in the morning and fired on army posts along the LoC in in Krishna Ghati sector in Poonch district at around 08.30 am.
“The Army men responded strongly and the exchange of the fire continued for eight hours. It stopped at 4.30 pm,” he said.
The defence spokesman said Pakistani troops also fired on army posts and civilian areas in Naushera sector of Rajouri district from 10.20 am.
“Besides, firing from automatic weapons, the Pakistani troops also fired mortar shells to our positions and civilian areas. The army men responded effectively and befittingly,” Lt Col Mehta said.
He said the intermitting firing was going on when reports last poured in.
Sources said a civilian identified as Abdul Aziz, 52, of Banoni village in Mendhar tehsil of Poonch district was injured when a mortar shell fired by Pakistani troops exploded close to his residence.
He has been hospitalized.
Sources said due to continued Pakistani shelling and firing, the border residents in Rajouri and Poonch districts stayed indoors.
“We have advised people to stay indoors in case of cross-border shelling. Since we cannot evacuate the whole population in border areas, we have advised them to stay indoors and not venture out during cross-border firing and shelling,” a government official said.
There has been a surge in ceasefire violations by Pakistani troops after army conducted surgical strikes on militant launch pads across the LoC on intervening night of September 28/29.
At least 14 security personnel and 12 civilians have been killed in these ceasefire violations.