Jammu and Kashmir: 9-year-old girl, army jawan killed as Pakistan 'initiates' heavy shelling on LoC

An Army jawan and a nine-year-old girl were killed while three persons injured in heavy firing and mortar shelling by the Pakistan Army along the LoC in Poonch and Rajouri districts of Jammu and Kashmir on Monday.

#UPDATE Naik Muddasar Ahmed,belonging to J&K's Tral,lost his life in ceasefire violations by Pakistan on Indian Army posts in Rajouri sector pic.twitter.com/d0t3SBHNzu

— ANI (@ANI) July 17, 2017

The Indian Army retaliated, triggering heavy exchanges.

“The Pakistan Army initiated unprovoked firing on Indian Army posts in Rajouri sector and Poonch district at around 0730 hours. The Indian Army retaliated strongly and effectively”, a Defence spokesman said.

In the fire exchange, Naik Muddasar Ahmed was grievously injured when mortar shells landed on his bunker, the spokesman said, adding that he was evacuated to the MI room where he succumbed to injuries.

37-year-old Ahmed, who belonged to village Duchoo, is survived by wife Shaheena Muddasar and two children.

“Ahmed was a brave and sincere soldier. He loved his job to the core,” the spokesman said. The nation will always remain indebted to him for the supreme sacrifice and devotion to duty, he said.

Pakistan also shelled mortars on civilian areas in Balakote, Manjakote and Baroti belts, a police officer said.

In the firing and shelling, 9-year-old Sajada Houser was killed at Baroti, police officer said.

Following the ceasefire violation, Director-General of Military Operations (DGMO) Lt Gen AK Bhatt on Monday spoke over the phone to his Pakistani counterpart and conveyed that India reserves the right to retaliate to any cross-border firing along the LoC. The two DGMOs also deliberated on the situation along the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir, an army official said.

According to sources close to  Hindustan Times , the unscheduled conversation between two DGMOs took place on the request of the Pakistani side in face of increased ceasefire violations.

A senior district official of Rajouri said two civilians were injured in shelling in Manjakote belt of Rajouri district and have been hospitalised. A jawan was also injured, he said.

All schools in border of Manajote and Balakote belts are closed and people have been advised not to come out of their homes in view of the heavy shelling, they said.

Seven persons, including four jawans were killed, in ceasefire violations by Pakistan Army along the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir in July this year.

On 10 July, Pakistan Army had targeted villages and forward posts along the LoC in Poonch sector with mortars and small arms, damaging a trade facilitation centre and police barracks. In the shelling, a trade facilitation centre and police barracks were damaged.

On 8 July also, Pakistani army had violated the ceasefire and resorted to mortar shelling and firing along the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch district in which an army jawan and his wife were killed and their three daughters suffered injuries.

There were 23 incidents of ceasefire violation, one Border Action Team (BAT) attack and two infiltration bids by Pakistan in June in which four people, including three jawans, were killed and 12 injured.

With inputs from PTI