2 Army jawans killed, 5 injured in heavy Pak shelling on LoC

*3 Pak posts destroyed across KG

Sanjeev Pargal

Mortar shells gathered by people in Balakote sector on Tuesday.
Mortar shells gathered by people in Balakote sector on Tuesday.

JAMMU, Nov 8: Two Army jawans were killed and five others injured when a mortar shell fired by Pakistani troops hit their vehicle at Janghar in Nowshera sector of Rajouri district, where heavy exchange of shelling and firing took place between Indo-Pak troops during the day while several houses and power transformers, household items and crops were also extensively damaged.
Troops launched massive counter offensive against Pakistan and inflicted significant damage on the enemy destroying their three posts namely Battal, Pimple and Bump across Salhutri between Balakote and Mendhar sectors. Four Pakistan army personnel were eliminated in the counter action that was necessitated to prevent civilian casualties as all these three posts were targeting civilian areas along the Line of Control (LoC) in Mendhar and Balakote sectors for past few days.
Official sources told the Excelsior that an Army vehicle, which was on way from Nowshera to forward posts of LoC was hit by a mortar shell in Janghar area this afternoon. The two Army jawans sitting on front seats of the vehicle sustained serious injuries while five others sitting behind had very minor injuries.
Troops immediately evacuated the seriously injured jawans to hospital where Naik Prem Singh was declared as brought dead while Naik Harvinder Yadav was admitted in serious condition. Yadav succumbed to his injuries late in the evening. Prem Singh is a resident of village Sahar in Benar district of Rajasthan while Yadav hailed from village Abbaspur in Balia district of Uttar Pradesh.
Five Army jawans, who were injured in the shelling, have been identified as Havaldar Lakhan Singh, Havaldar S Ramaiya, Sepoy R Naresh, Sepoy Parmal Sanjay Kumar and Sepoy Jadhav Laxman. Their condition was stated to be stable.
The shelling by Pakistan army in Nowshera sector started around 11 am today and continued till 5 pm. The Indian side retaliated very effectively and gave Pakistan a befitting response. Both sides used 120mm and 82mm mortars in exchange of shelling and firing.
Kallal, Kallar, Bhawani, Sher Makri, Jyoti and Pukharni areas in Nowshera sector were heavily shelled during the day. The people remained confined to their houses in entire Nowshera sector during the day. The shelling continued till 5.15 pm after which intermittent exchange of firing was reported from both the sides.
A number of houses and two power transformers were damaged in forward areas of Nowshera sector. The transformers were damaged at Sher Makri snapping power supply in the village and surroundings. Several household items were also damaged as mortar shells landed inside or close to civilian areas. Reports said a number of cattle had either perished or were seriously injured in the shelling and firing from Pakistan side.
Sources said crops and grass in many forward areas of Nowshera sector caught fire in the mortar shelling and were burnt.
BJP MLA from Nowshera, Ravinder Raina visited several forward villages and met Army and civil officials. He condoled the loss of lives of Army in today’s shelling and appreciated the courage displayed by the troops in giving befitting reply to Pakistan. Raina assured all possible help to the border people.
Sources said a number of cattle were either dead or seriously injured in the shelling and their exact number would be known only when the shelling stops.
In Poonch district, Pakistan army started shelling in Balnoi, Salhutri and Jhalas areas in Krishna Ghati sector at 11 am. Shelling in parts of Mendhar and Balakote sectors took place between 2.15 pm to 5.30 pm. After shelling, intermittent exchange of firing was reported between the two sides.
Here also, the people remained indoors to avoid casualties.
It may be recalled that Pakistani troops had violated ceasefire and resorted to firing in Mankote and Balakote areas of Mendhar sector in Poonch district yesterday also.
On November 6, two Army jawans were killed and five others — two soldiers, a BSF officer and two women — were injured as Pakistani army opened fire in an attempt to facilitate two infiltration bids along the LoC in Krishna Ghati and Poonch sectors of Poonch district.
There had been about 105 ceasefire violations on Indian posts and civilian areas along the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir after the surgical strike carried out by the troops on September 29 in Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) in which 50 militants and Pakistan army jawans were eliminated.
The worst-ever Pakistani shelling, targeting civil population, took place on November 1 when eight persons, including two children and four women, were killed and 22 injured along the IB and the LoC in five sectors of J&K, forcing Indian troops to give befitting reply by destroying 14 Pakistani posts and killing two of their troopers.
The State Government had closed over 400 schools along the International Border (IB) and the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu region in wake of the ongoing heavy cross-border firing.
A total of 18 people, including 12 civilians, were killed and more than 83 suffered injuries in Pakistani shelling and firing along IB and LoC in Jammu.

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