Keri: One officer and two jawans from 120 Infantry Brigade were on Saturday killed in a ceasefire violation by Pakistan in Keri. One other jawan has also been injured.
As per initial reports, there was a landmine explosion following which Pakistani forces opened fire on the Indian troops. The firing took place while the Army personnel were on patrol duty.
“The deceased major has been identified as Prafool Kumar of 120 Infantry Brigade. The injured soldier has been airlifted to hospital for treatment. Indian Army is retaliating strongly and effectively,” a police officer said here.
“The latest violation of the ceasefire agreement took place at a time when Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti was camping in Rajouri district headquarters to address people's grievances,” he said.
“Further details are awaited,” the police officer added.
The Army, in a statement, said that Indian troops retaliated “strongly and effectively”.
Jammu and Kashmir Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh paid rich tributes to the slain soldiers and condemned Pakistan for the ceasefire violation.
“Pakistan is indulging in such cowardly actions and is being given a befitting response, but it does not desist from such cowardly acts,” Singh told reporters on the sidelines of a function here.
Major Ambadas (32) belonged to Bhandara district in Maharashtra and is survived by wife Avoli Moharkar, while Lance Naik Gurmail Singh (34) belonged to Amritsar district in Punjab and is survived by wife kuljit Kaur and a daughter.
Sepoy Pargat Singh (30) belonged to Karnal district in Haryana and is survived by wife Ramanpreet Kaur and a son, the Army said.
“Major Ambadas, Lance Naik Gurmail and Sepoy Pargat were brave and sincere soldiers. The nation will always remain indebted to them for their supreme sacrifice and devotion to duty,” the Army statement said.
The deputy chief minister said Pakistan has got isolated at the global stage, especially on the issue of terrorism.
“Pakistan is a terrorist state and it will not be too long before the country is declared a terrorist state by the world. It does not only support terrorism but also provide state sponsorship,” Singh said.
As per the Home Ministry, Pakistan has violated the ceasefire along the International Border and the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir have been the highest in 7 years. Pakistani forces have violated ceasefire 724 times along the IB and the LoC till October in comparison to 449 times in 2016.
India shares a 3,323-km-long border with Pakistan of which 221 km of the IB and 740 km of the LoC fall in Jammu and Kashmir.
