Tension grips LoC after Pak army kills jawan, wife

Tragedy befell the family of an army soldier when Pakistan army shelled their home killing him and his wife beside injuring their two daughters at Khari Karmara village on the Line of Control in Poonch sector in Jammu on Saturday.

Territorial Army soldier Mohammad Showkat was home on leave a few days ago to spend time with his family. However, the family reunion turned into mourning when Pakistan violated the ceasefire and resorted to heavy shelling on Indian forward positions and civilian areas at 6.30 am on Saturday.

One of the 120mm mortar shells landed on the house of Showkat killing him and his wife Safiya on the spot. His two daughters Rubeena Kousar and Zahida Kousar suffered injuries in the incident. Another girl Nazia Kousar too was injured in the incident.

Later the bodies of the soldier and his wife were handed over to his relatives who live in the Mendhar area. "Showkat's brothers and mother lives in Mendhar area. He had built a house and shifted to this village with his children," Tariq Ahmad Zargar, Deputy Commissioner of Poonch, told DNA.

"Pakistan army initiated unprovoked and indiscriminate firing of small arms, automatics and mortars from 6.30 am on the LoC in Poonch sector. Indian Army is retaliating strongly and effectively," said Lieutenant Colonel Manish Mehta, defence spokesman at Jammu.