A soldier was killed after terrorists attacked an army camp in Pulwama district (Representational)
A soldier was killed after terrorists attacked an Army camp at Kakpora in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district. In the cross firing a civilian was also killed. This is the first major attack on the army in Kashmir after the government announced unilateral ceasefire during the Muslim holy month of Ramzan.
A defence spokesman said retaliatory action by the army is underway.
"In a cowardly and provocative act of terror, terrorists carried out a stand-off attack on Kakapora Army Camp. One soldier martyred. Retaliatory actions ongoing" said the defense spokesman.
Earlier, state police and Home ministry officials had said that ceasefire is having a positive impact in Kashmir and both terrorist activities and stone throwing incidents have drastically come down.
Officials even hint at extending ceasefire beyond the month of Ramzan if the situation shows signs of improvement.
However, there has been a spike
in the number of ceasefire violations by Pakistan-- from five during the week before the peace plan was operationalized, to 33 between May 16 and 23. Eight civilians have been killed and as many as 44 were injured in Pakistani firing in the week that followed
the centre's gesture. Nine security personnel also suffered injuries.
"Pakistan has been completely exposed, busy killing people even during Ramzan," Jitendra Singh, Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office told NDTV.
Incidents of stone throwing in Kashmir have reportedly dipped-- from 44 a week before Ramzan to 16 following the 'ceasefire' call. But there's little change in terms of civilian injuries caused by stone-throwing mobs. If 17 people were injured a week before the centre extended the olive branch, 15 civilians
suffered injuries the week after.