Jammu and Kashmir: Army launches counter-offensive, 6 jawans injured in shelling

The offensive came hours after the Indian Army vowed "heavy retribution" to the attack on its soldier.

Jammu, Nov 24: Army on Wednesday launched a counter offensive against Pakistan along the LoC after three Indian soldiers were killed, with body of one of them mutilated in a cross-LoC attack, even as Pakistani troops continued to shell Indian positions, injuring two six jawans.

The offensive came hours after the Indian Army vowed "heavy retribution" to the attack on its soldier. Brigadier General Staff (BGS) of Northern Command, Brig P S Gotra said India Army launched a counter offensive along the LoC in retaliation to Tuesday's offensive in Machhil sector of Kashmir.

Indian Army posts are responding strongly and giving a befitting reply, Defence PRO Manish Mehta said. Pakistan Army also fired at Indian posts along the LoC in Bhimber Gali, Krishna Ghati and Nowshera sectors.

Four jawan of army were injured in shelling by Pakistani troops along LoC today, an Army officer said.

"Two BSF jawans suffered minor injuries in ceasefire violation by Pakistan troops along LoC in Bhimbher Gali area of Rajouri district at 0945 hours today", a senior BSF officer said.

They are out of danger, he said. In the cross-LoC attack by suspected Pakistani terrorists, three Indian soldiers were yesterday killed, with body of one of them being mutilated.

The ambush on the army patrol took place in Machhil sector of Kashmir, following which the Indian Army vowed heavy "retribution".

The Northern Command spokesman had yesterday tweeted, "3 soldiers killed in action on LC (Line of Control) in Machhal.

Body of one soldier mutilated." He said the "retribution will be heavy for this cowardly act."

This is the second such incident of mutilation of the body of an Indian soldier in the same sector since October 28.

On that day, terrorists, aided by the cover fire by Pakistani Army, had crossed the Line of Control and killed an Indian army jawan and mutilated his body in Macchil sector.

One attacker was killed in that incident. The 2003 India-Pakistan ceasefire agreement has virtually become redundant with nearly 300 incidents of firing and shelling along LoC and IB in Jammu and Kashmir by Pakistani troops that resulted in death of 26 people, including 14 security personnel, since the surgical strike on terrorist launch pads in PoK.

India and Pakistan entered into no-firing agreement along Indo-Pak border in Jammu and Kashmir in 2003.

PTI