india

Updated: Nov 02, 2015 21:31 IST

Two army jawans were killed in a fresh ceasefire violation by Pakistani troops, ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Jammu and Kashmir on November 7.

According to army officials Pakistani troops resorted to unprovoked firing on the LOC in Gurez’s Eizmarg area in North Kashmir. According to sources Pakistani troops fired at many Indian positions with Light and medium caliber weapons including rockets .

According to sources one of the bunkers was hit by a rocket resulting in fatal injuries to two jawans of 160 Battalion of territorial army.

Army sources say the firing started at 12.35 pm in the afternoon and lasted till 1.15 pm.

“Indian army also retaliated and the exchange of fire lasted for over 45 minutes,’’ said an army official.

The ceasefire violation is seen as an attempt to cast a shadow on the upcoming visit of the Prime Minister to the state. Separatists in the state have already announced a counter rally on the day Prime Minister is likely to be in the valley.

The incident is latest in the series of ceasefire violation in the state by Pakistani rangers.

One person was killed and two others injured in Samba and Kathua areas of Jammu in October when Pakistani rangers fired on civilian areas.

Jammu and Kashmir government had earlier said that in the last two years 419 ceasefire violations took place and 203 such incidents happened during this year upto September 18, 2015.

A minister in Mufti Sayeed cabinet had informed the legislative assembly during October’s autumn said that 28 deaths were caused due to border shelling in 2014 and 2015. He said 167 persons were injured, 194 houses damaged, 70 livestock died and 125 livestock injured in such incidents.

Ironically the incident took place on the day a minister in Mufti Sayeed cabinet said that Modi’s visit will defuse border tension. Jammu and Kashmir’s rural development minister, Abdul Haq on Monday expressed hope that the upcoming visit of Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, to the state will help in defusing tensions along the borders, so that people living near Line of Control (LoC) won’t face the brunt of skirmishes between Indian and Pakistani armies.

Modi will visit Srinagar for a day-long trip after inaugurating the 450 MW Baglihar hydroelectric project on the Chenab in Chanderkote area of Ramban district. The commissioning of Baglihar II will increase the state’s power generation to 1,211 MW.

The PM will hold a public rally at Srinagar’s Sher-e-Kashmir stadium on November 7 where he is likely announce a development package for Jammu and Kashmir. The development package that Modi is set to announce is expected to be worth around Rs 92,000 crore.

Congress had earlier alleged that ceasefire violations by Pakistan have doubled since the BJP-led NDA government took over reins of the country.