JCO succumbs, civilian injured in Pak shelling along LoC

A Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO) injured in Pakistani firing died today while a civilian was wounded in fresh ceasefire violations along the LoC in the Poonch-Rajouri belt of Jammu and Kashmir.

"Pakistan Army initiated unprovoked and indiscriminate firingby small arms, automatics and mortars from 11:45 hours in Poonch sector along the Line of Control (LoC)," a defence spokesman said.

The Army is retaliating strongly and effectively, the spokesman said.

"JCO Subedar Shashi Kumar, who was grievously injured duringthe unprovoked ceasefire violation by Pakistan in Naushera yesterday and was being administered treatment at Command Hospital Udhampur, succumbed to his injuries," a defence spokesman said.
 

He said the nation will always remain indebted to Subedar Shashi Kumar for his supreme sacrifice.

The soldier was a native of Galon village in Hamirpur district of Himachal Pradesh. He is survived by his wife SantoshSharma and children.

"His mortal remains are being sent to his native village," the spokesman added.

Earlier in the day, the Pakistan army resorted to unprovoked firingon the Indian posts in Naushera sector in Bhimbher Gali around 08:45 hours.

Reports suggested Pakistan has resorted to heavy shelling in Balakote, Dhar, Lambibari, Rajdhani, Mankote, Sandote, Shahpur, Rawalakote, Gulpur in Rajouri and Poonch districts from thismorning.

A civilian, named Raza, has been injured in the shelling in Sandotehamlet along the LoC and is hospitalised, police said.

During the past 24 hours, Pakistan violated ceasefire eight times-- in Balakote, Poonch,Naushera, Bhimbher Gali, Nowgam sectors.

Nine people, including seven soldiers, have been killed and 18people injured in over a dozen of ceasefire violations by Pakistan this month.

Yesterday, the neighbouring country violated ceasefire five times pounding villages and forward posts with mortar bombs along the LoC. Two jawans were killed and six people, including three civilians, were injured.

Over 8,000 people, including 3,000 in Naushera and 5,000 inManjakote-Rajdhani-Panjgrain-Naika, have been affacted in Pakistan shelling in the past two days.