Pak violates ceasefire along Rajouri, one Army jawan killed

An army soldier was killed as Pakistani troops violated ceasefire along the Line of Control (LoC) in Sunderbani sector of Rajouri district in Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday.

An army spokesperson said Pakistani troops resorted to unprovoked firing on Indian posts in Sunderbani sector of Rajouri at around 2 pm, which was strongly and effectively retaliated by the Indian army.

"In the exchange of fire, Lance Naik Yogesh Muralidhar Bhadane was grievously injured. He later succumbed to his injuries," said the spokesperson.

Bhadane (28), belonged to Khalane district of Dhule district of Maharashtra and is survived by his wife.

The firing exchange lasted around 15 minutes, and both sides used small arms.

The latest ceasefire incident occurred a day after Army chief General Bipin Rawat said the army was ready to call Pakistan's "nuclear bluff" and cross the border to carry out any operation if asked by the government.

The ceasefire violations and sniper attacks along the LoC and the International Border (IB) by Pakistani troops have been on the rise over the last one year.

On December 31, an army soldier was killed as Pakistani troops violated the ceasefire along the LoC in Nowshera sector of Rajouri.

Earlier, on December 23, four army personnel, including a major, were killed as Pakistani troops violated the ceasefire along the LoC in Keri sector of the same district.