Firing starts again in Akhnoor and Nowshera sectors in Jammu and Kashmir
One civilian was today killed and another injured when Pakistani troops resorted to heavy shelling along the International Border and the LoC, officials said.
"Two brothers were injured when shells hit their house in Kanachak-Pragwal sector along the IB in Jammu district tonight. One of them, Gopal, later succumbed to his injuries and the other is in hospital," a senior police official told news agency PTI.
Intense cross-border firing has been reported in Jammu, Akhnoor, Nowshera and Poonch districts on the line of control and the International Border In Jammu And Kashmir. Sources have told NDTV that the Border Security Force and the Army are strongly retaliating.
After nearly 72 hours, firing by Pakistani rangers had stopped around 5.30 am today. "Pakistan has resumed heavy shelling along LoC in Bhawani, Karali, Said, Numb and Sher Makri areas of Rajouri district this evening," said the District Collector of Rajouri, Shahid Iqbal Choudhary.
Sepoy CK Roy, who was injured fighting in a forward post in Mankote sector of Poonch died at a military hospital late night. With his death the number of persons killed in Pakistani firing along the LoC and International Border in the five districts of Jammu, Kathua, Samba, Poonch and Rajouri since Thursday rose to 12. Among the 12 dead are seven civilians, three armymen and two BSF jawans.
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh today said India has shown it can attack its enemies not only on its soil, but also on a foreign territory, if need be. Mr Singh's remarks came almost a week after the Indian Army carried out a "retaliatory action" against Pakistani troops, killing seven of their soldiers and injuring four others along the LoC in Poonch district.
Pakistan summoned India's Deputy High Commissioner in Islamabad for the fifth time over the alleged "unprovoked firing" by Indian troops across the Line of Control which, it said, resulted in the death of two people. The tensions have increased between the two sides due to ongoing firing and heavy shelling for four consecutive days.
(with additional inputs from PTI)