Two Soldiers, Civilian Killed In Ceasefire Violation By Pak Troops In J&K

Two soldiers and one civilian have been killed after a ceasefire violation by Pakistan troops in Jammu and Kashmir's Kupwara district, police said today. Three others have also been injured. The incident took place in the Tangdhar sector of Kupwara. Two houses were also damaged in the incident.

The Army said they retaliated strongly to the unprovoked firing and launched attacks on terror camps located inside Pakistan occupied Kashmir in which four to five Pakistan Army soldiers were killed and several were injured, sources said. According to sources, four terror launch pads in Neelam valley - opposite the Tangdhar sector of Kupwara -- have been destroyed in the artillery strikes.

There is also cross-border firing along the International Border in Kathua.

Last week, two army soldiers were killed in separate incidents after Pakistan fired along the Line of Control (LoC) in Baramulla and Rajouri.

India has raised the issue of targeting civilians during ceasefire violations along the Line of Control with Pakistan, which has seen a spike since special status to Jammu and Kashmir was scrapped in August, news agency PTI had reported quoting Army sources.

In July, there were 296 cases of ceasefire violations, 307 in August and 292 in September, news agency PTI reported. September also recorded 61 "calibre escalation", implying use of mortar and heavy ammunition.

Till September this year, Pakistan had committed more than 2,050 unprovoked ceasefire violations in which 21 people died, the centre had said last month. Repeated requests have been made to Islamabad to stick to the 2003 ceasefire understanding, a spokesman had said.

The terror camps, sources said, have been actively trying to push terrorists into Indian territory, part of Pakistan's plan to destabilise the situation in Jammu and Kashmir, following the Centre's move to end the state's special status ad bifurcate it into two Union Territories.