Firing at LoC, Indian soldier killed

Violating the ceasefire along the Line of Control in Poonch sector of Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistani troops on Monday opened unprovoked heavy fire on a forward Indian post killing an army jawan.

"Pakistani troops resorted to heavy and unprovoked firing on our forward posts in Mendhar in Poonch sector around 0800 hours today," a senior army officer said.

The firing, which continued for over 10 minutes, resulted in the death of an army jawan, he said adding, that Indian troops later took up positions, but observed restraint.

The jawan, who was manning the forward post at the time of firing, belonged to the 2/8 Gorkha Rifles.

"They (Pak army) have violated the ceasefire by resorting to heavy firing on our positions," the officer said.

Taking a serious view of the ceasefire violation, army authorities deployed in Mendhar lodged a strong protest with their Pakistan counterparts.

Army authorities conveyed to Pakistani commanders that firing on the Indian post was started from the Pakistani side, the army officer said and added that they have also been asked to hold a flag meeting to discuss the issue.

This is the third ceasefire violation along the Indo-Pak border and second along the LoC in less than a fortnight.

On May 9, Pakistan resorted to heavy firing and burst grenades while targeting a BSF post and a patrol party along the International Border in Samba sector of J&K, violating ceasefire which came into force on November 16, 2003, for the first time.

On May 14, Pakistani troops again shelled Indian posts using 60 mm and 82 mm mortar shells in Tangdhar belt of Kupwara sector along the LoC in north Kashmir. This was the second incident of ceasefire violation.

Monday's firing by the Pakistani army is the third incident of ceasefire violation along the LoC.