Three soldiers killed, five injured as Pakistan violates ceasefire along LoC in J&K

Three army soldiers were killed and five others were injured on Thursday in separate ceasefire violations by Pakistan along the Line of Control (LoC) in Kupwara and Poonch districts of Jammu and Kashmir.

The Indian Army said that a befitting reply will be given to Pakistan, which is using mortars to target Indian forward posts. However, it was not known whether the Pakistan army suffered any casualties.

In Naugam sector of north Kashmir’s Kupwara district, two soldiers died and four others were injured after Pakistan initiated an unprovoked ceasefire violation.

“Pakistan initiated an unprovoked Ceasefire Violation along LoC in Naugam Sector, Kupwara today morning by firing mortars & other weapons. Two soldiers fatal. Four soldiers injured, being evacuated,” a defence spokesperson said in Srinagar.

The slain soldiers were identified as Havaldar Kuldeep of 15 Sikh Light Infantry and Rifleman Shubham, Unit 8 JAK Rifles.

In Poonch district of Jammu region, an Army jawan was killed and another injured when Pakistani troops violated the ceasefire and resorted to heavy firing and mortar shelling in Mankote and Krishna Ghati sectors.

Reports said Sepoy Karnail Singh and Rifleman Virender Singh suffered injuries in Pakistani firing. While Karnail Singh died before being admitted to a hospital, Virender Singh has sustained injury in his right eye and is being treated at a military hospital.

According to official figures, there has been around 75 per cent jump in ceasefire violations by Pakistan in the first six months of 2020 along the LoC in J&K as compared to the same period last year. Over 3,200 ceasefire violations by Pakistan troops were recorded in 2019.

The Pakistani army violated the ceasefire over 40 times in September. The Indian Army maintains that Pakistani troops have been frequently violating ceasefire by resorting to heavy shelling and firing to help the militants infiltrate.

Sources said the forward areas, where ceasefire violations are being reported, are in strict cordon and searches have been launched to monitor if there is any intruder who have crossed the LoC.

There is a 198 km International Border and over 510 km of LoC with Pakistan in Jammu and Kashmir.