Soldier, BSF man die in LoC firing

Srinagar/Jammu, December 6

An Army jawan and a BSF constable were killed in ceasefire violation by Pakistan along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir today.

Rifleman Rajesh Kumar from Uttar Pradesh was killed when a volley of bullets was fired towards a forward post in Machil sector of Kupwara, 150 km northwest of Srinagar.

“Pakistan violated the ceasefire in Machil sector at 10.45 am. One soldier got  martyred in the enemy fire,” said Srinagar-based defence spokesman Col Rajesh Kalia. “Indian forces retaliated strongly,” he added.

This is the third ceasefire violation by Pakistan in the past 24 hours in north Kashmir. Earlier today, Pakistan forces violated the ceasefire in Kamalkote area of Uri in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district, resulting in the suspension of cross-LoC trade via the Kaman bridge. 

Yesterday, Indian posts in the same area were targeted in which two soldiers were wounded, he said.

In the Sunderbani sector, a BSF Constable was killed and another injured in heavy fire from across the LoC this evening, officials said. The incident happened at a forward post in Mala area. The sector is manned by BSF’s 126th battalion.

While a bullet hit Constable Prosenjit Biswas in the stomach, Constable Mansa Ram suffered a gunshot wound in the thigh, they said. They were airlifted to Command Hospital at Udhampur, where Biswas succumbed to injuries.

The condition of the other jawan is stable, officials said. 

The violations come a fortnight after a Brigade Commander-level flag meeting between the two sides. — TNS