SRINAGAR: An army man and an elderly woman were killed in Pakistani firing along the Line of Control (LoC) in border districts of Poonch and Rajouri in Jammu and Kashmir on Monday while BSF said its troops foiled three infiltration bids along the International Border (IB) in Jammu during last 36 hours.
An army spokesman in Jammu Lt Colonel Manish Mehta told Express that a soldier was killed in unprovoked firing and shelling of Pakistani troops in Rajouri.
The slain soldier was identified as Rifleman Bimal Tamang, 20 of Dharan, Nepal. He is survived by mother.
“The army also effectively returned the fire and targeted the posts of Pakistani troops. Our men were retaliating with massive fire assault,” Mehta said.
The Pakistani troops also breached border ceasefire in Mendhar sector of Poonch district and fired from automatic weapons and resorted to mortar shelling on army posts and civilian areas.
An army official said a 55-year-old woman Rasheeda Bi was killed and her daughter Najma injured after shells fired by Pakistani troops hit their house in Goulad village of Mendhar.
He said Najma has been hospitalized.
The official said the soldiers were giving befitting reply to the Pakistani troops.
According to the official, Pakistani army also resorted to unprovoked firing and shelling on army posts in Balakote sector of Poonch district from 9 am.
“The Pakistani troops fired 82 mm and 120 mm mortar shells. Our troops responded appropriately and befittingly,” he said.
At least eight security men and four civilians have been killed in Pakistani troops firing along LoC and IB in J&K after army conducted surgical strikes on militant land pads in Pakistan administered Kashmir (PaK) last month following September 18 militant attack on army base in Uri in which 19 soldiers were killed and over two dozen injured.
Meanwhile, a BSF spokesman said the border guards foiled three infiltration attempts of militants aided by Pakistani troops firing and shelling along the IB in Hira Nagar sector of Kathua district during last 36 hours.
“On October 29, a group of 3-heavily armed militants attempted to infiltrate from Hira Nagar sector under Pakistani troops cover fire. However, alert BSF men forced the militants to retreat by firing at them,” he said.
The spokesman further said on October 30 midnight, a group of 3 militants was detected by troops in Hiranagar sector. “They were kept under close watch and on effective fire of BSF, they took shelter in dead ground having thick wild growth. BSF troops kept the area under close watch during the day and spotted the same group of militants in the evening close to the IB. The BSF opened fire on them and the militants returned the fire”.
He said as BSF men targeted the militants with accurate fire, Pakistan Rangers came to their rescue and provided the covering fire to them for their safe withdrawal towards Pakistani villages. “The militants were seen moving back towards Pak village Abhiyal Dogra” .
The spokesman said BSF again proved its mettle and ensured foolproof security of IB in Jammu.