(Updating earlier copy)
LUBNA FAYAZ
Poonch (NVI): A Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO) of the Indian Army was killed and a civilian injured in heavy firing and mortar shelling by the Pakistan army along Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch district today, defence officials said.
They said that around 1.30 PM, Pakistan army initiated “unprovoked ceasefire violation” by firing small arms and mortar shells along LoC in Qasba and Kirni sectors in Poonch. The Indian army retaliated “befittingly”.
In the cross-border shelling, Subedar Swatantra Singh of 16 Garhwal Rifles was critically injured in Kirni sector. The 48-year-old was shifted to Army hospital but later succumbed to his injuries, they said.
Army’s Jammu-based spokesman Lt Col Devinder Anand said the JCO was killed in “ceasefire violation by the Pakistan army.” “Befitting reply is being given to the violation,” he added.
One civilian identified as Mohammad Rashid was also injured in the firing and was hospitalised, a senior police official in Poonch said.
-CHK/ARK
