Meanwhile, a woman was among two civilians killed in mortar shelling along the LoC in Jammu and Poonch districts on Friday. The woman, identified as Isma Begum of Malikpur, is reported to have sustained splinter injuries in the head, during mortar shelling by Pakistani troops in Balakote sector of Poonch. The other victim has been identified as Ajay Kumar of Gigrial in Pallanwala sector near Akhnoor, in Jammu district.
Four others, including two girls and a woman, were injured during shelling along the International Border in Kathua district of Jammu region. The injured have been identified as Bawa Ram, 31, from Berra village, Sheetal Devi, 12, and Reeta Devi, 35, both from Pansar, and Zanif, 6, from Manyari.
Speaking to media persons after paying tribute to head constable Jitender Singh, who died in firing from across the border at Abdullian in R S Pura sector on Thursday, BSF Additional Director General Arun Kumar said they had killed 15 Pakistani Rangers so far. He said the Pakistani Rangers were being assisted by the Pakistani Army. “Under the cover of fire, they were also trying to push in terrorists. We have foiled two such attempts in recent days,” he said, adding that the BSF was giving a befitting reply and had inflicted heavy damage on the other side.
According to sources, nearly half-a-dozen Pakistani posts in Shakkergarh, Narowal and Chaprar areas have been damaged during retaliatory shelling by BSF. A defence ministry spokesperson, Lt Colonel Manish Mehta, said Pakistani troops were using “small arms, automatics, 82 mm and 120 mm mortars” in Pallanwala, Sunderbani and Akhnoor sectors. The Indian Army was “responding appropriately and befittingly”, he added.
Meanwhile, the Army said a soldier was killed while foiling an infiltration bid near the LoC, in Tangdhar sector on Thursday.
(Sourced from agencies, feature image courtesy:indianexpress.com)
