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Two Indian soldiers injured in Pak firing in Poonch district
At least two Indian soldiers were injured on Sunday morning in Pakistan firing on an Indian post along the line of control in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir,
At least two Indian soldiers were injured on Sunday morning in Pakistan firing on an Indian post along the line of control in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir, intelligence and army sources said.
The Indian side retaliated and the exchange ended after half an hour. Pakistani foreign ministry said a 22-year-old woman was killed and two injured in Indian firing on Kotli sector of Pakistan occupied Kashmir.
India was assessing the damage to the other side, the army said.
“Around 0300 hours (3am) havildar Saigan Rai and rifleman Vijay Rai of ‘C’ company sustained multiple splinter injuries at Balakote forward post after a mortar shell fired by Pak army exploded near the post,” an Intelligence official said.
Both the soldiers were moved to a garrison hospital in Rajouri.
An army officer at Nagrota-based 16 Corps, responsible for guarding the LoC south of Pir Panjal range, said, Pakistan violated the ceasefire at around 3.15am and fired eight to ten mortar shells.
“No fatal or serious casualties on Indian side. Pak casualties being ascertained,” he said.
There has been a sharp increase in ceasefire violations this year, forcing hundreds of people living along the border to flee their villages and take shelter at camps set up by the government.
Till August 1, there were 285 such violations by Pakistan compared to last year’s 228, Indian Army data shows.
The two countries had in November 2003 agreed to a hold their fire along the LoC but violations have intensified since 2016 as relations have nosedived.
