After Poonch and Rajouri, Pakistan violates ceasefire in J&K's Uri sector, 1 killed

New Delhi, Delhi, India

In yet another incident of ceasefire violation, a soldier was injured when Pakistani side fired on several Indian posts in Jammu and Kashmir's Uri sector.

According to ANI, the Indian side retaliated against the ceasefire violation after several Indian posts were targeted. Artillery shells were also fired from the Pakistani side. 

Earlier, the Indian Army top brass has strongly conveyed to Pakistan that it has every right to retaliate against incidents of ceasefire violation along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir. 

Raising the issue of repeated ceasefire violation by the Pakistani side along the LoC, India's Director General of Military Operations (DGMO), Lt Gen A K Bhatt, in a telephonic conversation with his Pakistani counterpart which lasted for nearly 10 minutes, told him that the Indian Army reserves the right to retaliate against ceasefire violation.   

The DGMO further added that the Indian Army "is sincere in its effort of maintaining peace and tranquillity along the LoC provided there was reciprocity", Army spokesman Lt Col Aman Anand said, as reported by PTI. 

An Indian Army soldier and a nine-year-old girl were killed while three persons injured in heavy firing and mortar shelling by the Pakistan Army along the LoC in Poonch and Rajouri districts of Jammu and Kashmir on Monday. 

The Indian Army said it has retaliated, triggering heavy exchanges.

The Indian Army Headquarters released a statement: Pakistan Army initiated unprovoked firing on Indian Army posts in Rajouri sector around 0730 hours today. Indian Army retaliated strongly and effectively.

In the fire exchange, Naik Mudassar Ahmed was grievously injured when mortar shells landed on his bunker. He was evacuated to the MI room where he succumbed to his injuries.

The statement said Muddasar Ahmed was 37, and belonged to a village named Duchoo, Tehsil Tral, in the Pulwama District in Jammu and Kashmir. He is survived by his wife, Shaheena Muddasar, and two children.

The nine-year-old girl has been identified in media reports as Sajada Houser. She was killed at Baroti, a police officer told PTI. 

A senior district official of Rajouri told PTI that two civilians were injured in shelling in Manjakote belt of Rajouri district and have been hospitalised. A soldier was also injured, he said.

Schools along the Manajote and Balakote belt have been shut and people have been advised not to come out of their homes in view of the heavy shelling.