Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 15: An Army jawan was martyred as Pakistan resorted to heavy mortar shelling and firing targeting forward defence location and civilian areas along Line of Control (LoC) in Manjakote sector of Rajouri district, bordering Balakote sector of Mendhar in Poonch this afternoon prompting the Indian side to retaliate very effectively.
Reports said that Pakistan Army started shelling forward Indian posts and civilian areas in Manjakote sector of Rajouri district at 2.30 pm. The Indian side immediately retaliated the shelling and firing, leading to heavy exchanges.
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A forward patrol party of the Army was reportedly caught in shelling by Pakistani troops at Tarkundi, falling between Manjakote and Balakote sectors of Rajouri and Poonch districts in which an Army soldier was seriously injured. He was evacuated from the firing site and shifted to hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries.
The martyred jawan has been identified as Lance Naik Mohammad Naseer, 35, a resident of village Ajout in Haveli area of Poonch district.
Body of the martyr is being sent to his native village of Ajout, where it will be buried with full military honours. The martyr is survived by his wife Wasim Akhtar.
“Lance Naik Mohammad Naseer was a brave and sincere soldier. He loved his job to the core. The nation will always remain indebted to him for the supreme sacrifice,’’ a Defence spokesperson said while paying tributes to the martyr Army soldier.
Reports said several mortar shells fell in the civilian areas of Naika, Panjgrain and Manjakote during heavy shelling by Pakistan army using 82 mm mortars. The Indian side also gave very effective response to Pakistani shelling and there were reports of damages suffered across LoC.
Fresh round of shelling by Pakistan army further spread panic among the villagers living close to the LoC in twin border districts of Rajouri and Poonch. The people remained confined to their houses even as the shelling and firing stopped around 6.30 pm. However, intermittent exchange of firing with small weapons continued for some more time.
The heavy exchange of mortar shelling and firing between Indo-Pak troops has become a routine affair along LoC in Poonch and Rajouri districts since May 1 when two Indian soldiers were mutilated in Krishna Ghati sector of Poonch district.
Indian troops have inflicted heavy casualties and damages on Pakistani troops by destroying their several forward posts and bunkers in which number of Pakistan army jawans have been killed and injured.
On the Indian side, two Army jawans were martyred 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 Shaukat of Territorial Army, who was visiting home on leave, and his wife Safia Bi.
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