Armyman killed, 4 injured in Pak firing along LoC in J-K''s Poonch

Ranjit Thakur
Jammu, August 20

Shelling by Pakistani troops at Poonch’s Krishna Ghati sector along the Line of Control killed one soldier, the Army said in a statement on Tuesday.

A Defence spokesperson said that Pakistani troops shelled the Indian post using small arms and mortars at around 11 am. The firing, the defence spokesperson said, was unprovoked.

 “Naik Ravi Ranjan Kumar Singh (36) of village Gope Bigha, Tehsil Dehrionson (Bihar) attained martyrdom in Mendhar sector in exchange of fire who is survived by his wife, Rita Devi.” defence spokesperson said. “Indian Army responded strongly and effectively to Pakistani shelling resulted in heavy damage to Pakistan Army posts and casualties to Pakistan soldiers have been inflicted by own troops.”

This comes two days after another soldier was killed in similar shelling at Rajouri.

The relationship between the two nations has been fraught with increased tension since the Pulwama militant attack that killed 40 paramilitary troopers in India and the Indian Air Force’s subsequent airstrikes in Pakistan’s Balakot, and India’s recent decision to do away with Articles 370 and 35-A has added to this strain.  India maintains that the decision was an "internal matter", but Pakistan condemned it.

Pakistan has since downgraded its trade and diplomatic ties with India, and suspended train and bus services that plied between the two countries.