JAMMU: A soldier was killed as Pakistan violated the ceasefire along the Line of Control (LoC) in Sunderbani sector in J&K’s Rajouri district on Wednesday. The is the fourth fatality suffered by Indian troops since January 1.
“Pakistan initiated firing of small arms and heavy mortar shelling targeting forward Indian posts and civilian areas along the LoC in Sunderbani, to which own troops effectively retaliated. In the cross-border exchange of fire, Sepoy Laxman from Rajasthan’s Jodhpur was critically injured and later succumbed,” Jammu-based defence spokesperson Lt Col Devender Anand said.
On January 24, non-commissioned officer Naik Nishant Sharma, who was injured critically in a ceasefire violation on January 18, succumbed at Udhampur Command Hospital during treatment. On January 21, Army Havaldar Nirmal Singh was killed during cross-border shelling in Poonch district. On January 1, junior commissioned officer Naib Subedar Ravinder was killed in another breach of truce by Pakistan along the LoC in Rajouri’s Nowshera.
“Sepoy Laxman was a brave, highly motivated and sincere soldier. The nation will forever remain indebted to him for his supreme sacrifice and devotion to duty. His mortal remains will be dispatched to his native place with military honour,” the spokesperson added.
On Tuesday, Pakistan had violated ceasefire twice in 24 hours along the LoC in Poonch’s Mankote sector.