Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Oct 16: In another act of provocation, Pakistan Army today violated ceasefire along the Line of Control (LoC) for second time during the day, killing an Army soldier in Tarkundi area of Balakote sector in Poonch while, in the wee hours of this morning, Pakistani troops resorted to heavy firing at four forward villages in Nowshera sector of Rajouri.
“The Pakistan Army’s act of firing was very provocative as they targeted our forward posts in Tarkundi, leading to killing of the jawan,” official sources said, adding very effective reply was given to Pakistan for this unprovoked act.
The fresh firing by the Pakistani troops came after a lull of more than a week along LoC in twin border districts of Poonch and Rajouri after heavy mortar shelling and firing, which had led to migration of people from several forward areas.
Sources told the Excelsior that Pakistan Army fired at forward area of Tarkundi in Balakote sector of Poonch district late this evening killing an Army jawan Sudees Kumar on spot.
Kumar was hit by the shots fired from across the LoC directly, leading to his on spot death. He was manning a post in forward area of Tarkundi when the bullets hit him. Army personnel shifted Sudees Kumar to the hospital, where he was declared as brought dead.
Troops from this side retaliated. However, reports of casualties or damage on other side of the LoC were not known.
Sudees 24, hailed from Sambhal district of UP and is survied by his wife.
This was second ceasefire violation by the Pakistan Army on the LoC in twin border districts of Rajouri and Poonch today.
At about 4 am, Pakistan Army had resorted to unprovoked and heavy firing at four places in Lam Laroka area in Nowshera sector of Rajouri district targeting forward Indian posts. The Indian side retaliated effectively leading to heavy exchanges that continued for four hours.
Small and automatic fire arms were used in exchange of firing, sources said, adding that from 8 am onwards, there was no firing in Nowshera sector.
“There were no casualties or damage on the Indian side in Pakistani firing in Nowshera sector. However, casualties, if any, on the other side were not known immediately,” sources said.
The fresh ceasefire violations by Pakistan Army in Nowshera and Balakote sectors of Rajouri and Poonch districts respectively has spread wave of panic among the people living in forward areas especially in Nowshera sector, which had witnessed large-scale migration about a week back in view of heavy shelling on civilian areas from Pakistan side.
People from more than a dozen villages, located along the LoC in Nowshera sector, had migrated to safer areas in the wake of shelling. They were accommodated in the Government buildings including educational institutions while some families had taken shelter in the houses of their relatives.
Sub Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Harbans Lal Sharma said all migrants have returned to their houses following over week-long peace on the LoC, which was shattered early today. However, no fresh migration has been reported after today’s firing, he added.
Sources said there have been over 25 ceasefire violations along the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir after surgical strikes by Army troops in Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) on September 29 to dismantle terror launching pads.
In the firing and shelling, six civilians and four Army men had sustained injuries in Poonch district. Nine Pakistani army men were injured in retaliatory action by Indian troops along LoC.
On October 8, Pakistani troops had fired on forward Indian posts along Mendhar-Krishna Ghati sector in Poonch district resulting in injuries to one jawan.
On October 5, Pakistani troops had violated the ceasefire thrice and resorted to heavy firing and mortar shelling targeting several Indian posts and civilian areas in three sectors of Poonch and Rajouri districts.
Pakistani troops had on October 4 targeted 10 forward areas with mortar shelling and firing with five ceasefire violations on Indian posts and civilian areas along LoC in four areas of Jammu, Poonch and Rajouri districts.
They fired mortar bombs and opened small and automatic weapons in Jhangar, Kalsian, Makri in Nowshera sector of Rajouri district and Gigriyal, Platan, Damanu, Channi and Pallanwalla areas of Pallanwala sector of Jammu district and Balnoi, Krishna Ghati in Poonch district.
Pakistani troops had on October 3 violated the ceasefire four times and resorted to heavy firing and mortar shelling in Sabjian, Shahpur-Kerni, Mandi and KG sectors in Poonch district.
On October 2, Pakistan resorted to firing and shelling from 1915 hours along LoC in forward areas in Pallanwala belt of Jammu district.
On October 1, Pakistani troops had shelled Indian posts and civilian areas with mortar bombs, RPGS and HMGS amid small arms firing along LoC in Pallanwala sector in Akhnoor tehsil of Jammu district.
On September 30, Pakistani troops resorted to small arms firing along the LoC in Pallanwala, Chaprial, Samnam areas of Akhnoor sector of Jammu district.
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