The Indian Army carried out two major operations on Army Day. Seven Pakistani soldiers were killed in "retaliatory action" at Poonch after a ceasefire violation in Jammu & Kashmir on 15 January. In another attack on the same day, five suspected JeM militants were neutralised after security forces foiled an infiltration bid.
7 Pakistani Soldiers Killed, 4 Injured Along LoC in 'Retaliatory Action'
Pakistani soldiers violated the ceasefire along the Line of Control (LoC) and resorted to heavy shelling on forward posts in Mendhar sector of Poonch district, a senior army officer told PTI.
Indian troops targeted the Pakistani post engaged in the ceasefire violation by a retaliatory act of heavy shelling, he said. Seven Pakistani soldiers were killed and four other soldiers injured, the officer said. A Pakistani Army officer, identified as Major Amjad, was among the dead, reported Indian Express.
The retaliation comes after an Indian soldier was killed in Pakistan firing along the LoC in J&K's Rajouri district on 13 January. Lance Naik Yogesh Muralidhar Bhadane, 28, from Dhule district of Maharashtra, was killed during firing from across the border in Sunderbani sector of Rajouri district, the Indian Express report added.
The Pakistan Army acknowledged that it lost four of its soldiers in a cross-border firing by India across the LoC but claimed to have killed three Indian troops. The government of Pakistan reported that four soldiers were killed in what they alleged was "unprovoked firing" on part of India.
The army personnel were fired upon and hit by heavy mortar rounds while carrying out "line communication maintenance" along the LoC in Kotli sector's Jandrot area, the army's media wing Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement in Islamabad.
Custodian of LoC Trade and Travel, Mohammad Tanveer, told PTI:
The cross-LoC travel between J&K and Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK) has been suspended due to tension at the LoC,Mohammad Tanveer, Custodian of LoC Trade and Travel
5 JeM Terrorists Killed as Infiltration Bid Foiled
Five militants of the Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) were neutralised as the Indian Army foiled an infiltration bid along the LoC in Uri sector in Kashmir, a senior army officer said in Srinagar.
Defence spokesperson Colonel Rajesh Kalia said the attackers were trying to sneak into India from a point about 108 km from Srinagar, NDTV reported. “The first infiltration attempt of 2018 was foiled in the overnight ending Tuesday morning,” Brigadier YS Ahlawat told reporters in Uri.
A major infiltration bid – the first of 2018 – by a fierce ‘fidayeen’ group has been foiled along the LoC in Uri sector. A major tragedy has been averted on Army Day and in the run up to the Republic Day celebrations.Brigadier YS Ahlawat to PTI
Alert troops traced the movement "as the terrorists were moving along the banks of Jhelum and subsequently tracked their movement, " added the army officer.
Brigadier Ahlawat said that “ensuing firefight resulted in neutralisation of five terrorists in the operation.” In addition, four bodies were recovered and the fifth was lying near the boat that the militants had used to cross the river.
A cache of arms – including four AK-47 rifles, three Underbarrel Grenade Launchers, 38 UBGL grenades, 23 hand grenades, nine IEDs and “other war-like items”, have been recovered from the dead militants, he added.
The army action came on a day when Army chief Gen Bipin Rawat sent a stern message to Pakistan, saying it will use its “might” to teach the neighbouring country a lesson in case they did not cease aiding cross-border terrorism. “If we are forced, then we may resort to other action by stepping up military offensive,” he said during his address to army personnel in Delhi to mark the 70th Army Day on 15 January.
(With inputs from Indian Express, NDTV, PTI)
(This story has been updated to include details of both Army operations)
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