Srinagar: Indian troops in retaliatory action hit at least three launch pads at Line of Control (LoC) in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (POK) after Pakistani troops violated ceasefire and resorted to indiscriminate firing early Sunday morning in which two soldiers and a civilian were killed and three villagers were injured in Tangdhar sector in the frontier district of Kupwara.
Official sources told UNI that the Indian troops used Artillery guns to target militant launch pads near LoC from this side and did not enter POK.
They said at least three launch pads in POK were hit in retaliatory action by Indian troops from this side.
However, the exact number of militants present in these camps was not immediately clear, sources said, adding it was not a surgical strike.
According to an Army spokesperson, one civilian, identified as Mohd Sadiq (55) was killed in the firing. The injured have been identified as Mohd Maqbool (70), Mohd Shafi (50) and Yusuf Hamid (22).
The official sources said Pak troops, earlier, fired mortar shells and resorted to indiscriminate firing with automatic weapons from across the border in Teetwal Tanghdar sector in Kupwara, targeting forward posts and civilians area at the Line of Control (LoC) late last night. Indian troops retaliated and the exchange of fire continued till 0300 hrs on Sunday.
Over a dozen houses have also been damaged in the shelling, they said, adding six animals also died after a shell fell on a cowshed.
A massive rescue operation was launched this morning to shift the residents.
Pak troops also fired mortars and resorted to firing in Hajipore sector in Uri in north Kashmir district of Baramulla, targeting civilian areas and forward posts. Indian troops returned the fire and hit Pak bunkers, they added.
There was no report of any loss of life or damage to property on this side of the LoC, the sources said.
Sources said Pak troops are resorting to shelling and firing to help large number of militants present at launch pads to sneak into this side before the infiltration routes are closed due to heavy snowfall in winter. The higher reaches received light snowfall during the past 24 hours due to which the mercury has dropped considerably.
However, there will be no lowering of guard and security forces, guarding the LoC, will continue to intensify night and foot patrolling to thwart any infiltration bid.
J&K Director General of Police (DGP) Dilbagh Singh recently said that some militants had managed to enter the state from POK. However, he said, majority infiltration bid were foiled by the troops.
In New Delhi, an Army spokesperson said, “Last night, Pak Army initiated unprovoked CFV to assist infiltration by terrorists into Indian territories. As a result calibrated escalation of area weapons was undertaken by the Indian side in which terrorist launch pads, Pak Army Posts giving incidental protection to these launch pads and certain Gun positions were hit.”
“The Indian Army retains the right to respond at a time and place of it’s choosing in case Pak Army continues to assist terrorist activities across Indian borders,” he added. (UNI)
