LoC firing kills officer

Just two days after Nawaz Sharif took oath as Prime Minister, Pakistani troops violated ceasefire along the Line of Control (LoC) in Sawjian area of Mandi sub-sector in Poonch, Jammu and Kashmir, on Friday killing one junior commissioned officer (JCO) of the Army.

Sources told Deccan Herald that Naib Subedar Bachan Singh of Garhwal Regiment was killed when Pakistani troops started “unprovoked firing” on Indian posts at 1pm using pika guns, rocket projectile guns and under barrel grenade launchers. A senior Army official said that Pakistani forces violated the ceasefire along the LoC for the fourth time in two weeks and the latest violation was aimed to facilitate the infiltration of militants.

“The Army was searching the area to find any infiltrators. Vigil along the LoC has been increased as ceasefire violations could be a diversionary tactic to push terrorists into the Valley from Pakistan occupied Kashmir,” he added.

Earlier on May 31, Pakistani troops fired at Indian positions in Nawgam sector in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district, but there were no casualties. Again on May 27, Pakistani troops pounded Indian posts in Nawgam with rockets.