An Indian army jawan was killed when Pakistani troops opened fire at Indian forward posts in Balakote sub-sector along the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch district on Tuesday evening in what is stated to be the second ceasefire violation of the day and the eighth in less than a week.
Indian troops retaliated and heavy exchange of fire continued several hours after the firing that started at 5.30 PM from across the border, a Defence spokesman said.
The jawan, who died after being hit by a mortar shell at a Forward Defence Location, was identified as Lance Naik MS Khan of the 15 Bihar regiment.
General Officer Commanding 16 Corps Lt General D S Hooda condoled the death of the jawan.
The spokesman said the ceasefire violation was the second of the day and the eighth in less than a week.
Pakistani Army resorted to shelling of mortars besides automatic and small arms firing in forward areas along the LoC in Hamirpur and Bhimbher Gali (BG) sub-sectors of Poonch district from 0630 hours on Tuesday, the spokesman said.
Indian troops guarding the border took positions and retaliated strongly with equal calibre weapons, triggering exchanges which continued intermittently, he said.
Pakistani troops resorted to firing from 2225 hours on Monday night, the spokesman said, adding, Indian troops gave an equal calibrated retaliation triggering exchanges till 2335 hours.
A Border Security Force (BSF) jawan, Constable M Basu was injured when Pakistani troops resorted to firing on Katav Border Out Post (BoP) along the International Border (IB) in Samba district on Monday.
On October 12, Pakistani Army troops resorted to firing of mortar shells, automatic and small arms firing in forward areas along LoC in Bharasingha and Mendhar battalion forward areas in Krishna Gati and Bhimber Gali sub-sector of Poonch.
On 11 October, Pakistani Army troops resorted to shelling of 82 mm mortars besides automatic and small arms firing in forward areas along LoC in Barasingha, Mendhar and Hamirpur sub-sectors of Poonch district forcing Indian troops to retaliate.
