LoC erupts again: 2 Army jawans killed; 4 security personnel, woman injured

A shell fired by Pakistan forces explodes in Mandi area of Sabjian sector in Poonch on Sunday.
A shell fired by Pakistan forces explodes in Mandi area of Sabjian sector in Poonch on Sunday.

*Two major infiltration attempts foiled in Poonch

Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Nov 6: After a lull of three days, Line of Control (LoC) erupted again in wee hours of this morning with Pakistani forces resuming heavy mortar shelling and trying to push militants into Indian territory at two places in Krishna Ghati (KG) sector of Poonch district in which two Army jawans were killed and five others including four security personnel and a civilian woman were injured while as troops launched major counter offensive in which seven Pakistani posts were decimated and five Pakistani troopers were killed opposite KG sector.
The two infiltration attempts by the militants, which were aided and abetted by the Pakistani troops in KG sector, were thwarted successfully by the troops. All militants, who were trying to sneak-in into the Indian side under covering fire by Pakistani troops, retreated to Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK).
Sources told the Excelsior that Pakistan resumed heavy shelling using 120mm and 82mm mortars in Krishna Ghati sector at about 4 am today targeting forward Army posts and civilian areas. Subsequently, they extended shelling to Sabjian sector in Poonch.
Under the cover of shelling and firing, troops spotted two big groups of militants infiltrating into the Indian territory in Krishna Ghati sector. Troops challenged the militants but as they kept on moving towards Indian side, Army personnel from their forward posts retaliated, leading to heavy exchange of gunbattle in which an Army jawan was injured, who subsequently succumbed to his injuries.
The martyr has been identified as Sepoy Gursevak Singh, 24, son of Balwinder Singh R/o Warana, Lalpur in Tarn Taran area of Amritsar district in Punjab.
Troops, however, successfully thwarted both the infiltration attempts despite open support to the militants by Pakistan army. All militants fled back to PoK.
Later, Pakistan army started heavy mortar shelling and firing at Sagra, Balnoi and surrounding villages of Krishna Ghati sector and Sabjian sector, both in Poonch district using 120mm and 82mm mortars. Indian side responded very effectively.
Another Army jawan attained martyrdom in the exchange of shelling while four others including two Army personnel, a BSF Sub Inspector and a Special Police Officer (SPO) were injured. A civilian woman was also injured in the shelling.
The martyr Army jawan was identified as Tupare Rajendra Narayan, a resident of village Karve, Chanbad in Kolhapur district of Maharashtra. He is survived by his wife Sharmila.
Subedar Sanjay Solanki and Sepoy Yaqub Beg were injured in Sabjian along with BSF Sub Inspector Nitin Kumar. Lady SPO Zafira Bi was injured while manning forward police post on the LoC in Sabjian. A woman Tasleem Akhter, 24, wife of Mohammad Sharief, a resident of Salhutri Top was injured when a mortar shell exploded close to her house.
All the injured have been hospitalized.
Sources said the troops from this side undertook massive counter offensive against Pakistan, whose army was directly targeting the civilian population. At least five Pakistani troopers were killed in retaliatory action by the Indian side when their six posts were decimated.
“The massive assault against Pakistan army personnel was necessitated to silence their guns to avert civilian casualties,” sources said, adding that immediately after the Indian action, shelling from Pakistan side came down considerably and only intermittent firing was  going on at Krishna Ghati and Sabjian sectors.
It was on November 2 when shelling had stopped along LoC in Mendhar sector of Poonch district after troops had destroyed six Pakistan posts across Mendhar. Since then, there had been no shelling along LoC, which was resumed early today by Pakistani troops.
On November 1, eight civilians were killed-six at Ramgarh sector along the International Border including two women and two children and two women in Manjakote sector along LoC in Rajouri district.
Today’s ceasefire violation on the LoC came after a lull of three days when an uneasy calm prevailed along the LoC and the International Border (IB).
“The violation of the ceasefire agreement by the Pakistani side has become a rule rather than an exception after the Indian Army on September 29 morning carried out surgical strike against terrorist launch pads across the Line of Control,” sources said.
Expressing concern on the situation along the borders former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah tweeted, “Condolences to the families of the brave soldiers. The situation along the border/LoC is a matter of grave concern (sic).”
There have been over 100 ceasefire violations on Indian posts and civilian areas along the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir after the surgical strike.
“Pakistani troops have carried out over 100 ceasefire violations along LoC in Jammu and Kashmir after surgical strike by the Indian Army on terror launch pads in PoK,” sources said.
They said that there have been 84 ceasefire violations by Pakistani troops along LoC in Jammu region falling under 16 Corps area.
As many as 16 ceasefire violations have been recorded along LoC in Kashmir region falling under 15 Corps area, he said.
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 others 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 IB and the 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.
Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar had on Wednesday asked the Army personnel posted along the Line of Control to remain alert and give a befitting response to any “misadventure” from across the border.
While complimenting their valour and fortitude, which Parrikar said was the entire nation’s pride, he also impressed upon the soldiers to remain in a very high state of alert to give a befitting response to any misadventure from across.
There is over 510 km of LoC with Pakistan in Jammu and Kashmir.
Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Minister Dr Nirmal Singh has expressed grief over the death of two Army soldiers  who attained martyrdom while foiling infiltration bids along the Line of Control (LoC) in Krishna Ghati and Poonch sectors.
Dr. Singh expressed deep condolences and sympathies with the family of the soldiers, who sacrificed their life for the nation.He prayed for eternal peace to the departed souls.
He also prayed for early recovery of the persons who were injured in cross-border firing in Poonch sector.

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