4 soldiers martyred in Pak firing

Four Indian soldiers, including an Army Captain, were martyred in heavy mortar shelling by Pakistan Army along the Line of Control (LoC) in Rajouri district on Sunday.

The situation was tense in the area as the Indian Army was retaliating effectively to inflict maximum damage on the other side of the LoC. According to official sources, one of the forward Indian posts in the BG Sector was targeted by the Pakistan Army.

“Four Indian soldiers received grievous injuries in the shelling and succumbed,” official sources confirmed while speaking exclusively to The Pioneer.

Unofficial reports claimed the Indian Army managed to hit “strategic assets” of the Pakistan Army in retaliatory action.

The martyred soldiers have been identified as 23-year-old Captain Kapil Kundu, hailing from Village Ransika Tehsil Pataudi, District Gurgaon. He is survived by his mother Sunita Devi. Rifleman Ramavatar, who is survived by his wife Rachana Lodhi. He hailed from Village Baraka, Gwalior. 23- year-old Rifleman Subham Singh from Village Mukand Pur Choudharian, Tehsil Marheen, Kathua. Lodhi is survived by his father Parshotam Singh. The forth martyre, Havilder Roshan Lal, is survived by his wife Asha Devi. He hailed from Village Nicholas, Tehsil Ghagwal, Samba.

Reacting to the shelling, J&K Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti tweeted, “Pained to hear that three soldiers were killed & two injured along the LoC in Rajouri. My condolences to the deceased’s families”.

Meanwhile, a number of civilians also received  injuries during the day-long incidents of ceasefire violations across Poonch and Bhimber Gali sectors. According to ground reports, a young girl was injured in fresh exchange of firing along the LoC in Shahpur area of Poonch.

Defence spokesperson in Jammu said, “Pakistan Army initiated unprovoked and indiscriminate firing of small arms, automatics and mortars from 11 am in Poonch sector.”

As several mortar shells started landing in civilian areas, the Indian Army retaliated and the firing continued till 3.30 pm. The Pakistan Army

trained their guns on forward posts in Bhimber Gali area too in the evening.

Block Medical Officer, Mendhar issued an advisory for local residents to remain inside their homes in view of heavy shelling in the forward area.

He also circulated numbers of health officials and ambulance drivers in case of any medical help required.

Deputy Commissioner, Rajouri Dr Shahid Iqbal Choudhary on Sunday tweeted, “amid ceasefire violation along vast stretch of LoC a very disturbing news yet again about losses”.

DC Rajouri has also ordered closure of all educational institutions for next three days in the 0-5 km belt along the LoC from Sunderbani to Manjakote areas of Rajouri.