Two Indian soldiers were killed and four others got injured when Pakistan violated ceasefire in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kupwara along the Line of Control (LOC) on Thursday (October 1).
The Indian Army said it was giving a “befitting” reply to the unprovoked firing by Pakistan. The wounded soldiers were being evacuated, it said.
“Pakistan initiated an unprovoked ceasefire violation along the LoC in Naugam sector, Kupwara, on Thursday morning by firing mortars and other weapons,” defence spokesperson Colonel Rajesh Kalia said.
Related News: Pakistan smuggling guns, quadcopters into Kashmir at China’s behest: Govt
He said the Indian Army lost two soldiers in the firing. They were identified as havaldar Kuldeep of Unit 15 Sikh Light Infantry and rifleman Shubham of 8 Jammu And Kashmir Rifles. “The injured personnel are being evacuated while a befitting response is being given to the Pakistani firing,” he said.
Security officials in the area said Pakistan had been resorting to ceasefire violations since morning on Thursday, with artillery firing continuing for most part of the day.
India had lost a soldier on Wednesday, too, due to shelling by Pakistan in violation of the agreed ceasefire. Lance Naik Karnail Singh, belonging to the Sangrur district of Punjab, had died during firing from across the border in the Krishna Ghati sector along the LoC in the Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir.
Related News: India slams Pak on terrorism, genocides as PM raises Kashmir issue in UN
Army officers said Pakistan has violated ceasefire often in the past few months. They have resorted to unprovoked firing to help extremists sneak into India, they said. There has been heavy firing in the Rajouri and Poonch sectors from the other side of the border, they added.
Officer said Pakistan has violated ceasefire more than 3,000 times in eight months. This is the most number of violations recorded in a year since India and Pakistan agreed to maintain a ceasefire in 2003.
In September, there were over 45 unprovoked firing from the Pakistani side.