Two Pak soldiers killed in retaliatory fire, says BSF

Majid Jahangir

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, February 22

A day after a Pakistan army helicopter came close to the Line of Control in Poonch, India and Pakistan exchanged heavy firing and mortar shelling at the Uri sector in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district and Tangdhar in Kupwara district.

As the LoC skirmishes were on in Uri, the senior-most Border Security Force officer in Kashmir claimed today that two Pakistani soldiers were killed across the border from the Tangdhar sector of Kupwara district on Wednesday in Indian action.

“The BSF and Army gave a befitting reply to the ceasefire violation by the Pakistan army (in Tangdhar after the killing of a BSF constable) and reliable sources have confirmed that there have been two casualties on their side,” said Inspector General, BSF, Sonali Mishra, after the wreath-laying ceremony of BSF Constable Sunil Murmu, who was killed in the Tangdhar sector in Pakistani sniper fire, at Humhama on the outskirts of Srinagar.

She said Pakistan did not want India to have a peaceful atmosphere. “They (Pakistan) do not want peace and tranquillity in India. It is using different methods of ceasefire violations, sniping, BAT action, infiltration and it has been their plan not to allow peace here,” she said, adding that the ceasefire violation could be their strategy for infiltration. Mishra said the forces were ready to tackle any situation along the LoC. “We are ready for infiltration, BAT action, standoff fire, sniping… alertness along the LoC is always high,” she said. Meanwhile, massive shelling took place on Thursday at Hajipir in the Uri sector, some 120 km from Srinagar. At least three houses were damaged in the Pakistani shelling which began around 8 am. The Army responded in full strength, sources said Srinagar-based defence spokesman Col Rajesh Kalia said: “Unprovoked ceasefire violation by Pakistan in the Uri sector began around 8 am and our troops retaliated,” he said.

A police official said Pakistani violated ceasefire in the Churanda, Batgrah, Tilwari and Silikote, Hatlanga areas of Hajipir. The houses were damaged at Tilawari village. Many people fled their homes in the sector after the shelling intensified. “There is no report of any casualty,” he said.

On Monday evening, three civilians, including a woman, were injured in the shelling in Churnada village. A day later, BSF Constable Sunil Murmu of 124 Battalion was killed in the Tangdhar sector in Pakistani sniper fire. On Wednesday, the Army and BSF targeted Pakistani posts from Tangdhar.

Meanwhile, despite escalation of tension along the Uri sector, the routine LoC trade remained unaffected.

Sunjuwan attack: NIA registers FIR

The NIA on Thursday registered a case regarding the February 10 Sunjuwan terror attack in which five soldiers and a civilian were killed. NIA spokesperson Alok Mittal said in compliance with the MHA order on February 21, the NIA had registered the FIR in the case. It was on February 10 when militants stormed the Army station at Sunjuwan in Jammu.