Two soldiers killed as Pakistan opens fire along LoC in Poonch

india

Updated: May 01, 2017 14:00 IST

Two security personnel were killed on Monday along the Line of Control (LoC) when Pakistani forces fired at Indian posts, in the Krishna Ghati sector of Poonch district.

Naib subedar Paramjit Singh, a junior commissioned officer (JCO), and Border Security Force head constable Prem Sagar received critical splinter injuries and were rushed to the Garrison Hospital in Poonch, 250 km from Jammu, where they died, official sources said.

The Pakistani army began firing at 8.25am, injuring four security personnel, including the head constable and the JCO, injured.

“Pakistani troops opened fire using small arms and automatic weapons... Indian forces to retaliate in equal measure,” a senior army officer said .

Officials said it was personnel of Pakistan’s 647 Mujahid Battalion deployed on the forward defence line. They fired four rounds of rocket-propelled grenades and three to four bursts of automatic weapons on Kripan-1, manned by the BSF’s 200 Battalion.

Indian troopers at Kripan-1 retaliated with automatic weapons at 8.40am. The firing lasted till 9am.

BSF head constable Prem Sagar belongs to Deoria district in UP. One of the injured was identified as BSF constable Rajender Kumar, while the identity of the fourth trooper, who received minor injuries, is yet to be revealed.

India and Pakistan have agreed to a ceasefire along the LoC but it is violated frequently. Pakistani troops routinely target Indian posts, often — Indians officials say — to give cover to militants trying to cross over.