4 soldiers killed in action in Pak bombings, 3 civilians killed


Two army baboons and a Border Security Force (BSF) officer were killed in action (Archive)

Srinagar:

In a large outbreak along the Line of Control, seven people, including four soldiers, were killed in ceasefire violations committed by Pakistani troops in various areas of northern Jammu and Kashmir on Friday, authorities said.

Two army soldiers were killed in Pakistani gunfire in the Nambla sector of Baramulla district, officials said. Pakistani forces used mortars and other weapons.

A deputy inspector from the Border Security Force (BSF) was also killed while a jawan was injured in the Haji Peer sector, they said.

Two civilians were killed in the Kamalkote sector in the Uri area of ​​Baramulla district, while a woman died in the Balkote area in the Haji Peer sector of Uri, they added.

Indian forces have retaliated heavily for the shelling and army sources said there have been multiple casualties on the Pakistani side.

About 6-7 Pakistani army soldiers, including two SSG (Special Service Group) commandos, were killed and between 10 and 12 wounded, army sources said.

Several bunkers, fuel depots and launch pads of the Pakistani army have been destroyed and set on fire, they added. Videos released by the army showed the destruction of the targets.

Authorities said several people were injured in the Pakistani bombardment inside Indian territory.

They said that apart from several locations in Uri, violations of the ceasefire were reported from Izmarg in the Gurez sector of the Bandipora district and the Keran sector of the Kupwara district.

A defense spokesman said the army blocked an infiltration attempt under the cover of Pakistani gunfire, along the Line of Control (LoC) in the Keran sector.

“Our troops today observed suspicious movement at outposts along the LoC in the Keran sector (in the Kupwara district, northern Kashmir). The alleged infiltration offer was thwarted by troops on alert.” said Colonel Rajesh Kalia.

“They fired mortars and other weapons. An adequate response is being given,” he said.

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In New Delhi, BSF officials said Deputy Inspector Rakesh Doval, 39, stationed in the force’s artillery battery at the LoC in Baramulla, died after being wounded in the shooting around 1:15 pm.

Sheriff Vasu Raja was also injured, but is now stable. He was stationed at the same outpost, they said.

Almost all BSF units throughout the LoC have been under fire since morning and effective retaliation has been mounted by troops, artillery regiment and supporting weapons, a senior force official said.

The BSF works under the operational command of the army in the LoC.

“The deputy inspector has made a supreme sacrifice in the line of duty while facing a strong violation of the ceasefire by the enemy. The noncommissioned officer was a resident of Rishikesh in Uttarakhand and joined the border force in 2004,” the officer said. .

Rakesh Doval is survived by his father, wife and a 9-year-old daughter, he said.

In Srinagar, Colonel Kalia said that the violation of the ceasefire spread to larger areas from the Keran sectors to Uri.

This was the second infiltration attempt in a week. The previous failed attempt in the Machil sector during the midnight of November 7-8 was blocked in which three terrorists were killed.

Three army soldiers, including a captain, and a BSF jawan also lost their lives during the operation.

“The Indian army is well prepared to defeat all attempts by Pakistan to infiltrate terrorists into JK,” the spokesman said.

(With PTI inputs)

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