Abid Bashir
Srinagar (NVI): An Indian Army jawan was killed while two other soldiers were injured in ceasefire violation by Pakistani troops along Line of Control (LoC) at Shahpur and Kirni sectors in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch district, defence officials said today.
They said that late last night, Pakistani army resorted to unprovoked ceasefire violations in Shahpur, Kirni and Qasba sectors of Poonch district in which three soldiers sustained splinter injuries. “All the three soldiers were evacuated to army hospital where one of the injured succumbed later in the night,” a defence official said.
He said that the Pakistani army fired small and medium arms besides mortar shelling in Shahpur, Kirni and Qasba sectors of Poonch district. “The troops responded effectively and gave a befitting reply to the Pakistani side. The exchange of fire remained on for some time,” he said.
The deceased soldier has been identified as Sepoy Lungambui Abonmei, defence spokesman Lt Colonel Devender Anand said.
“Pakistan Army resorted to unprovoked ceasefire violation on the line of control (LoC) in Poonch Sector on 13 Jun 2020. Own troops responded strongly to the enemy fire. In the incident, Sepoy Lungambui Abonmei was critically injured and later succumbed to his injuries,” Press Information Bureau (Defence Wing) said in a release.
Locals living close to the LoC said that due to frequent exchange of fire and mortar shells between the two armies, their lives have been severely affected and they are living under constant fear.
“At times we are not even able to move for cover given the intensity of the firing between the two sides. Not all of us have underground bunkers to take cover during the firing. Majority of us remain confined to our homes, but a mortar shell can land on anybody’s house,” a group of people living close to Qasba sector said.
This year, a record number of 1,630 ceasefire violations have been recorded in J&K on LoC as Pakistan has used small arms and mortar shells, besides indiscriminate gunfire, according to security officials. “Every time Pakistan resorted to unprovoked ceasefire violation, the army has given them a befitting reply by retaliating effectively,” a defence official said.
