New Delhi: In a fresh round of ceasefire violation by Pakistan, four Army personnel were killed in Jammu and Kashmir's Rajouri Sector.
The dead include: Capt Kapil Kundu, riflemen Ram Avtar and Subham Singh; and Havildar Roshan Lal. The one injured has been identified as Lance Naik Iqbal Ahmed.
Pakistani forces opened unprovoked and indiscriminate firing of small arms, automatics, and mortars around 1110 hours along LoC in Bhimbher Gali sector of Rajouri district this evening, said a senior army official.
The Indian Army retaliated strongly and effectively, he said.
The Army also said that "the martyrdom of Indian Army soldiers will not go in vain. The unprovoked action by Pakistani army will be given a befitting response".
Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti expressed pain at the deaths due to Pakistani shelling along the LoC. "My condolences to the families of the deceased," she said.
Authorities in Poonch issued an advisory asking people to stay inside their homes.
All 84 schools located in 0-5 Km along LoC from Sunderbani to Manjakote have been ordered shut by Deputy Commissioner, Rajouri, Dr Shahid Iqbal.
The officials said that the situation was very tense as firing and shelling by Pakistani troops continued round the clock.
In January, schools along the International Border and the LoC in five districts -- Jammu, Samba, Kathua, Rajouri and Poonch -- were closed for over a fortnight because of firing and shelling by Pakistani troops.
Earlier in the day, a 15-year-old girl was injured as Pakistan intensified firing at Indian military posts and villages along the Line of Control or LoC in Poonch and Rajouri districts.
Fourteen persons, including eight civilians, were killed and over 70 others injured in intense shelling by Pakistan along the IB in Jammu, Kathua and Samba districts and LoC in Poonch and Rajouri districts from January 18 to 22.
While there were no ceasefire violations by Pakistan reported along the IB since January 22, intermittent shelling has taken place along the LoC.
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