Major, 3 jawans killed in Rajouri LoC attack

Ajay Banerjee & Shyam Sood

Tribune News Service

New Delhi/Rajouri, December 23 

A Major and three jawans were killed as Pakistani troops violated ceasefire in Keri sector of Jammu and Kashmir’s Rajouri district on Saturday afternoon. 

The deceased were identified as Major Moharkar Prafulla Ambadas, Lance Naik Gurmail Singh, Lance Naik Kuldip Singh and Sepoy Pargat Singh — all of the 2 Sikh Regiment. 

Major Ambadas, 32, from Bhandara district in Maharashtra, is survived by his wife Avoli Moharkar. 

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Lance Naik Gurmail Singh, 34, belonged to Punjab’s Amritsar district. He leaves behind his wife Kuljit Kaur and a daughter. Lance Naik Kuldip Singh belonged to Kaureena village of Talwandi Sabo in Bathinda while Sepoy Pargat Singh, 30, belonged to Karnal district in Haryana. He is survived by his wife Ramanpreet Kaur and a son.  

“They were brave and sincere soldiers. The nation will always remain indebted to them. The Indian Army has retaliated strongly and effectively on Pakistan army posts,” read an Army  statement.  

The incident is suspected to be the handiwork of the Pakistan army border action team (BAT) and not the routine LoC firing. Though technically classified as a violation of the ceasefire agreement of 2003, sources said the activity was more like a BAT action.

Killing four trained soldiers in a single strike is rare during a violation of the ceasefire. It is being suspected  that Pakistan army troops crossed the Line of Control and ambushed this group of the Indian Army, indicating a BAT action. The fencing  is several hundred metres inside the LoC. This is clearly firing from a very close range, less than 200 yards, it is suspected. Indian Army posts close to the LoC are well fortified.

The possibility is Pakistan army was aiding the infiltration of terrorists through Rajouri as the high passes have been snowed down and are impossible to cross.  

Rajouri is relatively lower in altitude. The military operations wing at New Delhi  and the Army’s Northern Command are analysing their response and a strong military response was expected. But all responses will be calibrated to cause maximum damage.