Indian soldier killed in Pak firing at LoC

A junior commissioned officer (JCO) was killed in a heavy firing by Pakistani troops from across the Line of Control (LoC) in the Sabjian area of Poonch district on Friday.

A junior commissioned officer (JCO) was killed in heavy firing by Pakistani troops from across the Line of Control (LoC) in the Sabjian area of Poonch district on Friday.

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According to sources, at about 11:30 am Pakistani troops resorted to unprovoked firing at some Indian forward posts, which was immediately retaliated by the alert Indian troops. Pakistan army targeted the posts with RPG and Pika guns, light machine guns and under barrel grenade launchers (UBGLs).

However, in the exchange of fire, Subedar Bachann Singh of Garhwal Regiment attached with 43 RR, who was manning the border at the Lonawala forward post, received fatal bullets injuries.

“The Sabjian area was targeted from across the border with RPG and Pika guns and UBGLs around noon. There was calibrated retaliation from our side. One JCO was hit by shrapnel. He succumbed to injuries. An alert has been sounded and the area has been cordoned off,” said SN Achary, officiating PRO, defence.

For the past few weeks, with the rise in temperature resulting in melting of snow in some areas along LoC in the Kashmir Valley and the Sabjian area of Poonch district, Pakistan army has been continuously trying to push militants into the Indian territory.

On June 2, the army had killed three militants in Naugan sector in the Kashmir Valley. To facilitate the militants, the Pakistan army targeted the Indian forward post to divert the attention of the soldiers.