Jammu, November 23: Three Border Security Force (BSF) troopers were injured on Wednesday when the Pakistan Army opened heavy fire at Indian posts on the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir, officials said.
The troopers, wounded in the border district of Rajouri, were taken to a hospital, a police officer said.
“Doctors described their condition as stable,” the police officer said.
Defence sources told IANS here that the Pakistan Army resorted to heavy shelling and firing since morning along the LoC -- the de facto border that divides Jammu and Kashmir between the two countries.
“Pakistan Army initiated indiscriminate ceasefire violation since 9 a.m. on Indian Army posts along the LoC in Bhimber Gali, Krishna Ghati and Naushera sectors of Poonch and Rajouri districts,” defence spokesman Lt. Col. Manish Mehta told IANS.“They are using 120 mm mortars and automatics to target our positions. Our posts are responding strongly and giving a befitting reply.”
It was the latest violation of a 2003 ceasefire agreement and came a day after three Indian Army soldiers were killed on the LoC in Machil sector of the LoC. The body of one of the three slain soldiers was mutilated.
The Indian Army has vowed retribution against the “cowardly act by Pakistan Army”.
Army launches massive counter assault on Pakistan
The Indian army has launched massive fire assaults on Pakistan along the Line of Control, a day after a soldier was mutilated and two more killed, for which it had vowed “heavy retribution”.
The entire Line of Control, the de facto border between India and Pakistan, is now a hot zone with firing at Poonch, Rajouri, Kel and Machil, said the army, indicating that a localized response is not enough after repeated incidents.
On Tuesday, a soldier was beheaded and two others killed by Pakistani commandos who crossed over at Machil. Just three weeks ago, another soldier was beheaded not far from the spot. “Retribution will be heavy for this cowardly act,” the army said in a statement.
Prabhu Singh was beheaded by Pakistani commandos who crossed over at Machil.
120 mm heavy mortars and machine guns are being used in the attack on Pakistani army posts.
The soldiers were ambushed while they were on a patrol in the Machil sector in north Kashmir by the Border Action Team of the Pakistan army. Indian posts are closer to Pakistan in this sector and the rugged terrain and thicker forests gives intruders an advantage.
The army said today’s assault is a direct message that mutilation is not acceptable and India’s response will be quick and massive.
Pakistan has denied the incident and termed the reports as false and baseless.
Last month, terrorists helped by Pakistani troops mutilated the body of 27-year-old Sepoy Mandeep Singh before running back into Pakistan Occupied Kashmir.
Eighteen soldiers, including five from the Border Security Force, have died in firing from Pakistan while India says it has killed at least 29 Pakistani troops in retaliation.
