Image: UNI
Jammu and Kashmir: BSF SI killed, woman injured as Pakistan violates ceasefire at multiple areas
Srinagar/UNI: A Border Security Force (BSF) Sub Inspector was killed while two others, including a woman, were injured when Pakistani troops resorted to unprovoked heavy shelling and firing from across the Line of Control (LoC) at multiple areas in north Kashmir.
Official sources told UNI that Pakistani troops, violating the 2003 ceasefire, fired mortar shells on Friday afternoon, targeting forward posts and civilian areas in Uri sector in Baramulla.
They said Indian troops retaliated and the exchange of fire was still going on when the reports last came in, adding a BSF SI, identified as Rakesh Doval, was killed while another jawan was injured.
“A woman was also injured in the Pak shelling,” they said, adding the wounded have been hospitalized.
They said Pakistan troops also violated ceasefire in the Gurez sector in Bandipora, triggering panic in the Izmerg and Bagtore areas of the sector, which was surrounded by Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (POK) from three sides.
“Pakistani troops opened another front by resorting to unprovoked heavy shelling and firing in Tangdhar sector in frontier Kashmir district of Kupwara,” they added.
A defence ministry spokesperson said that alert troops on Friday foiled an infiltration bid by militants along the LoC in the Keran sector. He said the infiltration bid was accompanied by initiation of an unprovoked ceasefire violation by Pakistan along the LoC in Keran sector. “Befitting response is being given,” he said.
The ceasefire violation comes days after a BSF constable, an Army officer and two other soldiers were killed during an encounter which ensued after alert jawans foiled an infiltration bid from PoK in Machil sector in Kupwara on November 8. Three militants were also killed in the operation.
Additional Director General (ADG), BSF, Surendra Panwar earlier this week said that Pakistan troops are violating ceasefire to facilitate militants to infiltrate into Kashmir valley.
Asserting that less number of militants managed to infiltrate into this side from POK as compared to last year due to heightened vigil along the LoC, he said that only 24 to 25 ultras infiltrated into J&K in 2020.
Panwar said that about 250 to 300 militants are waiting on launch pads in POK to infiltrate into this side before the routs are closed due to heavy snowfall. However, he said that the anti-infiltration grid is on high alert to foil any infiltration attempt.
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