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Pakistan launches twin attacks on LoC, five militants killed, soldier injured

Colonel NN Joshi, defence spokesman at Srinagar said alert soldiers effectively foiled the infiltration bid when they killed five militants when they were trying to infiltrate from across the LoC in Gurez Sector on Friday.

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Pakistan launched two pronged attack on the Line of Control (LoC) on Friday when they tried to push in infiltrators from one sector and shelled villages and forward posts in another across Jammu and Kashmir. Five militants were killed and two others including a soldier were injured in the twin attacks. Meanwhile, an Indian fisherman was on Friday killed in firing from an unidentified boat at his vessel off the Gujarat coast even as the local fishermen association blamed the Pakistan Maritime Security Agency for the attack. Indian fisherman Iqbal, 40, succumbed to his injuries after being hit by a bullet on right collar bone.

Colonel NN Joshi, defence spokesman at Srinagar said alert soldiers effectively foiled the infiltration bid when they killed five militants when they were trying to infiltrate from across the LoC in Gurez Sector on Friday.

"First contact with the terrorists was established late night just as they crossed the LoC, after which an intense gunfight ensued, resulting in elimination of two terrorists. The rest took cover in the rocks and bushes. After a deliberate operation by the army till Friday afternoon, three more terrorists were eliminated taking the toll to five," said Colonel Joshi.

Troops recovered a huge cache of war like stores which includes five AK- 47 Rifles, one rocket projectile gun and one under barrel grenade launcher. "The Army is continuing search and sanitizing operation in the area to ensure safety and security of the people", he said.

Pakistan army also stepped up attack on the civilian areas and forward posts on the LoC when they fired mortar bombs and high caliber shells in the Balakote sector of Poonch district of Jammu division injuring a soldier and a civilian on Friday.

SN Acharya, officiating defence spokesman at Jammu, said Pakistani army violated ceasefire in the wee hours of Friday when they fired mortar shells on the Indian forward posts and civilian areas in the Balakote sector.

"Pakistan started firing from 6 am which was continuing till 3 pm when last report came in. They were firing mortars and using other weapons. One of our solider was injured in the firing. His condition is stable," he said.

Indian army troops retaliated effectively to silence the blazing Pakistani guns. "We have retaliated to the firing", said Acharya.

Giving details, the Coast Guard said its ship Vijit intercepted a VHF (very high frequency) call at 9:30 am seeking assistance from an Indian fishing boat which was being fired upon by an "unidentified boat 10 NM (18.56 kms) across notional International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL)".

Two ships Vijit and Meera Behn - which were on patrol duty, were immediately diverted towards the position of incident to investigate and render assistance.

A Dornier aircraft was also pressed into action to carry out aerial surveillance.

"Vijit effected rendezvous with the boat and ascertained that the firing incident had resulted in the death of a fisherman. The remaining crew is safe," the Coast Guard said in a statement.

The fishing vessel is being brought back to Okha in Gujarat.

Asked about the alleged involvement of Pakistan's MSA, the official said a probe is underway and it would be premature to draw any conclusion at this stage.

The firing took place near the International Maritime Boundary Line(IMBL), Secretary of National Fishworkers' Forum (NFF) Manish Lodhari said, adding Pakistan's MSA was behind the attack.

"Iqbal was among six fishermen on the boat that had ventured into the sea from Okha port in Devbhoomi Dwarka district," he said.

Civilian areas attacked
Troops recovered a huge cache of war like stores which includes five AK- 47 rifles, one rocket projectile gun and one under barrel grenade launcher. "The Army is continuing search and sanitizing operation in the area to ensure safety and security of the people", he said. Pakistan army also stepped up attack on the civilian areas and forward posts on the LoC when they fired mortar bombs and high caliber shells in the Balakote sector of Poonch district of Jammu division injuring a soldier and a civilian on Friday.

Offered olive branch
Even as Pakistan continued to provoke, Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed offered olive branch to Islamabad saying he wants to bring down the walls of hatred between the two neighbours as people of the state will be the principal beneficiaries of thaw in relations.

"My primary goal is to take away the clouds of political uncertainty, which have hovered over the horizon of J&K for 70 long years," he said. District development commissioner of Poonch, Nisar Ahmad Wani told dna that one civilian was also injured when a shell landed in his compound.

Vessel brought back to Gujarat
A Dornier aircraft was also pressed into action to carry out aerial surveillance, where the Indian fishing boat was fired upon. "Vijit effected rendezvous with the boat and ascertained that the firing incident had resulted in the death of a fisherman. The remaining crew is safe," the Coast Guard said in a statement. The fishing vessel is being brought back to Okha in Gujarat. Asked about the alleged involvement of Pakistan's MSA, the official said a probe is underway and it would be premature to draw any conclusion at this stage.

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