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Army jawan killed in border firing on Poonch LoC
KT NEWS SERVICE. Dated: 7/16/2017 9:07:53 AM
MENDHAR, July 15: An army jawan was killed in cross-border firing and mortar shelling across the Line of Control (LoC) by Pakistani army in Poonch and Rajouri districts, today.
Identified as Lance Naik Mohammed Naseer, 35, resident of Ajot village of Poonch and posted with 15 JAKLI Regiment, he was killed in sniper shot fired from across the Line of Control when he was performing his duties, official sources said.
However, Pakistani troops of 650 and 651 Mujahid Regiment opened unprovoked firing and shelling upon the Indian Posts along the LoC in Balakote sector of Mendhar in Poonch district and Manjakote in Rajouri district. They targeted Panjni and Trikundi areas in Mendhar and Ghambir of Rajouri district using heavy arms including LMG, HMG, Mortars and Rockets from 1.30 AM to 8.00 AM followed by intermittent firing thereafter till 9.00 PM.
Unofficial reports, however, said that four jawans were injured in the shelling but it was not confirmed by the army. There were no civilian causalities on Indian side. Army has launched a massive search operation in the area.
Defence spokesperson said today in a statement to the media, “Pakistan Army initiated unprovoked firing on Indian Army posts in Rajouri sector at around 1330 hours today. Indian Army retaliated strongly and effectively,” he said.
Pakistani firing and shelling took place along the LoC in Balakote, Panjgrian, Naika and Manjakote areas, he claimed.
The spokesperson added that in the exchange of fire Lance Naik Mohammed Naseer was grievously injured and succumbed to his injuries. Naseer, who belonged to Ajout village of Poonch district, leaves behind wife Wasim Akhtar, he said.
Paying tributes to Naseer, the spokesman said he was a brave and sincere soldier who loved his job to the core.
“The nation will always remain indebted to him for the supreme sacrifice and devotion to duty,” the spokesperson said.
On July 12, two Jawans were killed in sniper fire by the Pakistani Army in Keran sector of north Kashmir.
Earlier on July 8, two civilians were killed and some others injured when Pakistani Army violated ceasefire violation and resorted to mortar shelling and firing of small and automatic weapons targeting forward posts and hamlets along the LoC in the Poonch district.
The deceased were Sepoy Mohammad Showkat of Territorial Army, who was visiting home on leave, and his wife Safia Bi.
Meanwhile, last Sunday, the Pakistan Army targeted villages and forward posts along the LoC in Poonch sector with mortars and small arms fire overnight, damaging a trade facilitation centre and police barracks. A police officer told news agencies that there was overnight heavy firing and shelling by Pakistani troops along the LoC in Poonch district and that it continued till 0100 hours.
There have been 23 incidents of ceasefire violation, one BAT attack and two infiltration bids by Pakistan in June in which four people, including three jawans, were killed and 12 injured.
Pakistan, on its part, had accused India on Thursday of committing at least 542 ceasefire violations so far in 2017, which they claim has resulted in the death of 18 people. Foreign Office spokesperson Nafees Zakaria in a statement said the “belligerent attitude” of its neighbour is a threat to regional peace and security, adding that Pakistan shares international community’s “growing concern over the deteriorating situation along the Line of Control.”