Soldier killed as Pak violates ceasefire along LoC in Rajouri

JAMMU: A soldier posted at the Line of Control was killed on Thursday night as Pakistan violated ceasefire, resorting to unprovoked firing of small arms and mortar shelling on forward areas in J&K’s Rajouri district.
Havildar Mathiazhagan P (40) was critically injured in the breach of truce in Rajouri’s Sunderbani sector, and was evacuated to Army Hospital where he succumbed later, Jammu-based defence spokesperson Lt Col Devender Anand said.
The soldier, who belonged to Tamil Nadu’s Salem district, is survived by his wife M Tamilarasi. He had joined the Indian Army on January 15, 1999, and served for over 21 years. “Havildar Mathiazhagan P was a brave, highly motivated and sincere soldier. The nation will always remain indebted to him for his supreme sacrifice and devotion to duty,” Lt Col Anand said.
Tributes were paid to the brave soldier at Akhnoor on Friday afternoon and his body was airlifted by a fixed-wing aircraft at 4 pm from Jammu. The coffin is being sent to Salem via New Delhi and Coimbatore. In all probability, the coffin will reach Coimbatore tomorrow and then will be taken to his native village Sreerangai Kadu in Salem district of Tamil Nadu, Lt Col Anand said.