Soldier killed, 4 others injured in Pakistan shelling

Tension grips Line of Control (LoC) after Pakistan army fired indiscriminately on Indian forward positions killing a soldier and injuring four others including an officer in the Krishna Ghati sector of Poonch district of Jammu division.

The incident occurred at 7 am when Pakistan army initiated unprovoked and indiscriminate firing for two hours using small arms, automatics, and mortars in Krishna Ghati LoC.

The Indian Army said it has retaliated strongly and effectively to silence the Pakistan guns. "However, in the exchange of fire, Sepoy Mustapure Shubham Suryakant was grievously injured and succumbed to his injuries," said Colonel NN Joshi, Defence spokesman at Northern Command Headquarters.

Hailing from Konerwadi Village of Parbhani district of Maharashtra, twenty-year-old Sepoy Mustapure Shubham Suryakant is survived by his mother Sunita.

"Sepoy Mustapure Shubham Suryakant was a brave and sincere soldier. The nation will always remain indebted to him for his supreme sacrifice and his devotion to duty," said Colonel Joshi.

Sources said four other soldiers including an officer were injured in the Pakistan firing. They have been shifted to hospital for treatment.

Northern Army Commander Lieutenant General Devraj Anbu offered condolence to the family of the martyr Sepoy Mustapure Shubham Suryakant.

Pakistan has upped the ante and violated border ceasefire at a time when it has announced to observe April 6 as Kashmir Solidarity Day. In a special federal cabinet meeting on Monday, it decided to observe Kashmir Solidarity Day on Wednesday in support of Kashmiri people.

Media reports reaching here said Pakistani cabinet members would participate in the Joint Session of the session of Pakistan Occupied Kashmir Legislative Assembly on Wednesday (April 4). It also decided to send special envoys of the Prime Minister, including the President of PoK, to selected capitals to highlight the deteriorating situation in Kashmir.

Official figures revealed that 633 ceasefire violations were recorded along the LoC and the International Border in Jammu and Kashmir in first two months of 2018. Of these 432 incidents were reported from the Line of Control and 201 on the International Border. Ten 10 security personnel and 12 civilians were killed in these violations.

Last year there were 860 ceasefire violations along the LoC and 111 incidents on the International Border. Twelve civilians were killed and 59 others were injured in these incidents in 2017. Six Army personnel and four BSF men were also killed and 18 army soldiers and 22 BSF jawans were injured in these incidents.

‘AVOID DAMAGE’

• CM Mehbooba Mufti asked the security forces to ensure that standard operating procedures were followed and collateral damage avoided while dealing with such security situations
   
• CM Mufti was reviewing the overall situation in the Valley in a high-level meeting of officers
   
• Mehbooba had issued similar advice at another high level meeting of officers last month.