Jawan killed as Pak provocations continue

Hours after Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh sent out a stern warning to Pakistan in ‘tough words’, second incident of ceasefire violation in last 24 hours was reported along the line of Control in Krishna Ghati sector of Poonch on Thursday.An Army jawan was earlier killed in a sniper fire by Pakistani Army on late Wednesday night in the same KG sector of Poonch.

So far, three Indian soldiers have been killed in similar snipping incidents across J&K this month.According to official sources, an Indian Army jawan identified as Rachpal Singh was killed after he was hit by a bullet from across the line of Control at  a forward Indian post late Wednesday evening. According to ground reports, Pakistani Army also violated ceasefire agreement by targeting at least five forward Indian posts in the KG sector on Thursday evening.

“The  unprovoked firing from the Pakistani side of the line of Control started around 6.15 pm and was still going on till late evening”, official sources told The Pioneer. It was not clear whether Pakistani Army was trying to provide covering fire to a group of infiltrators or targeting Indian posts only to provoke a strong  reaction.

The Indian troops are learnt to have retaliated the fire in equal measure using similar caliber of weapons, official sources said. More than 200 incidents of ceasefire violations have been reported this year across J&K. Following recent terror strikes in Gurdaspur district of Punjab the entire security grid across J&K has been alerted to prevent fresh terror strikes. 

Several intelligence agencies have been gathering specific inputs about the large presence of heavily armed militants across launching pads along the line of control and the International border with Pakistan.Highway check points along the border roads have been set up and area domination patrolling has been launched by the local police and paramilitary forces to guard the high value targets spread along the Jammu-Pathankot National Highway. 

The State police has also carried out security audit of its police stations to keep the policemen in a State of high alert. These police stations have been adequately equipped with sharp shooters and bullet proof vans to counter any terror strike by militant groups.