File photo of Army Chief General Bipin Rawat

NEW DELHI: India on Saturday categorically rejected Pakistan’s claims of having killed five Indian soldiers in the Tatta Pani-Krishna Ghati sector, even as the two armies continued to exchange heavy cross-border firing along the volatile Line of Control.

Senior Army officers dubbed as “completely false” the Pakistan Army ’s statement made in the afternoon that it had “violently responded” to “unprovoked ceasefire violation at Tatta Pani along the LoC”, which is faced by the Krishna Ghati sector on the Indian side, to kill five Indian soldiers and injure many others while “destroying Indian bunkers”.

“There has been no casualty on our side. Two civilians, including a woman, however, sustained injuries in the ceasefire violation by Pakistan, which began at 11 pm on Friday and continued till Saturday afternoon. We strongly reacted to it,” said an officer.

Pakistan’s latest claim on Saturday came in the backdrop of wide-spread reports, though unverified, that five of its soldiers were killed and six injured in “retaliatory fire assaults” by the Indian Army across the Poonch and Naushera sectors along the LoC last Thursday, as was then reported by TOI.

The entire 778-km LoC has turned red-hot after the beheading of two Indian soldiers in the Krishna Ghati sector on May 1, with India making its intent loud and clear of “pro-actively dominating” the contested border by destroying Pakistan Army posts aiding infiltration of militants.

Indian Army’s “targeted fire assaults” have been particularly intense in the Uri, Poonch, Krishna Ghati, Rajouri and Naushera sectors as part of the overall counter-terrorism strategy, which have led to several casualties in the ranks of the Pakistan Army.

Army chief General Bipin Rawat on Saturday also visited some battalions deployed along the LoC in North Kashmir, in a move that comes soon after the entire top brass of the 1.3-million force held a brainstorming session at Srinagar on Thursday and Friday to review the operational situation and military readiness along the western front.

“During his visit on Saturday, Gen Rawat was briefed on all aspects of operational and logistical preparedness. He was appreciative of the measures put in place to meet any challenge posed by elements inimical to national security and complimented the troops for the recent successful counter infiltration operations that had delivered a major blow to the adversary,” said an officer.

“Exhorting all soldiers deployed in the Valley to continue utmost vigil and operational focus, Gen Rawat reassured them of the entire nation’s support for their endeavours. He said that it was a privilege for every soldier to be entrusted with the safety, security and integrity of his country and that we must always be prepared to live up to that trust and confidence,” he added.



In Video: Army rejects Pakistan's claims of killing 5 Indian soldiers