Jawan martyred on LoC, heavy damage inflicted in retaliation

Solider killed, another injured in cylinder blast

JAMMU: An Army soldier was martyred in Pakistani firing which continued for fourth consecutive day along the Line of Control in Poonch and Rajouri districts, drawing ‘very strong’ retaliation from the Indian Army, inflicting heavy damage and casualties to Pakistani troops on the other side of the fence on Sunday.

In an unfortunate incident, another soldier was killed and a colleague injured in a gas cylinder explosion inside an Army camp in Kathua district.

“Pakistani troops violated the ceasefire by targeting forward posts and villages with heavy caliber weapons and rockets along the Line of Control in Poonch and Rajouri districts,” Jammu-based Public Relations Officer (defence) Lt Col Devender Anand said.

“Heavy caliber weapons and rockets were fired from across the border in unprovoked firing by Pakistan troops in Poonch sector since late Saturday evening,” he said.

The firing continued till Sunday morning. Grenadier Hari Bhakar who was guarding a forward post in Shahpur area, was critically injured in the cross-border firing, which continued intermittently throughout the night.
Bhakar, a resident of Rajasthan's Nagaur district, was admitted to the nearest field hospital, but later succumbed to his injuries early Sunday morning, the defence spokesman said.

Barely hours later, Pakistan also initiated unprovoked ceasefire violation by shelling mortars and firing of small arms along the LoC in Nowshera sector of Rajouri district around 11.50 am.

The Indian Army also retaliated in strong measure and caused heavy damage across the border, defence sources said.

“Our own troops retaliated in strong measure, inflicting adequate damage and casualties to Pakistani troops,” Col Anand said.

While Col Anand did not put up a number on the damage, sources informed at least half-a-dozen Pakistan troopers have been killed in Indian retaliation.

Barely two days ago, Indian retaliation has killed 12 Pakistani troopers including two officers, even though the same was not confirmed officially.

Bhakar’s martyrdom has taken the number of Army personnel killed since last week to three.

On March 18, rifleman Karamjeet Singh was killed in Pakistani firing in Rajouri district, while rifleman Yash Paul lost his life in unprovoked firing by Pakistan troops in the same sector on March 21.

The border skirmishes witnessed a spurt after India's air strike on a Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terror camp in Pakistan's Balakot on February 26 in response to the February 14 Pulwama attack that killed 40 CRPF personnel.
Later in the day, a wreath laying ceremony was held in northern Army headquarters at Udhampur to pay tribute to Bhakar, the officials said, adding that his his mortal remains were transported in a service aircraft from Udhampur to Jaipur.

Meanwhile, an Army soldier was killed Sunday and another injured when a gas cylinder exploded inside a camp in Kathua district, police said.

The incident occurred when the soldiers were carrying a gas cylinder inside their barrack in Janglote army camp in the afternoon, a police official said.

He said Naik Deepank Twang (35) of Darjeeling was killed and another soldier was injured in the blast.

After completion of legal formalities, the body of the deceased was handed over to his unit for last rites, the official said.

The injured soldier is being treated in a hospital, police said.