Tension along LOC as Pakistan army kills 2 jawans

Tension escalated on the Line of Control (LoC) after Pakistan army killed two Indian soldiers including a Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO) in Jumgund area in the Kupwara district of North Kashmir on Friday.

The incident occurred in the afternoon when Pakistan army fired on the troops manning the LoC in Jamgund area. Preliminary reports suggest it was a sniper attack in which two jawans suffered grievous injured.

The injured were immediately evacuated to Military Hospital Drugmulla where Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO) succumbed to his wounds. Another injured soldier was airlifted to army's 92 base hospital in Srinagar where he succumbed.

"Two soldiers were martyred in the enemy fire on the Line of Control. We have also retaliated to the enemy fire," said an Army spokesman.

The ceasefire violation comes 15 days after an army soldier and BSF were killed when Pakistan army violated ceasefire along the LoC in Machil and Sundebani sectors of Kupwara and Rajouri district of J&K on Dec 6.

The fresh ceasefire violation comes a month after Indian and Pakistani army resolved to adhere to the 2003 ceasefire agreement and give peace a chance on the borders.

The decision was taken in a Brigadier-level flag meeting between Indian and Pakistan army at the Poonch-Rawalakote Crossing Point along the LoC in the Poonch sector of Jammu division on Nov 23.

More than 109 people including 35 army soldiers and 21 BSF personnel were killed while 565 people were injured including 302 civilians and 263 security force personnel in the cross-border firing from Jan 2016 to July 2018.