Four Pakistan posts destroyed in fire assault in Keran, heavy casualties inflicted, says Army

Four Pakistan posts were destroyed in a massive fire assault in Keran Sector of Jammu and Kashmir, said the Army on Saturday, as reported by ANI. The army further added that heavy casualties were inflicted in the assault. The army had earlier stated that it would retaliate effectively in equal measure to any ceasefire violations by Pakistan.

The development comes nearly a day after Pakistani troops targeted Indian security positions in Kathua, RS Pura and Keran sectors along the International Border and Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir, injuring a BSF jawan  while another BSF jawan was killed accidentally while retaliating to the cross-border shelling and firing.

This, along with the fact that an Indian soldier was killed and his body mutilated by terrorists in an encounter in Machhil sector of Kupwara district, near the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir on Friday evening.

Stating that a terrorist was also killed in the incident, the Army warned of an “appropriate response”. In a statement released by the Army’s Northern Command, headquartered in Udhampur, it said, “In a despicable act, the terrorists mutilated the body of the Indian Army soldier before fleeing into Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), supported by covering fire from Pakistan Army posts.”

Meanwhile, earlier today a BSF jawan was injured in fresh shelling by Pakistan troops in Keran sector, a senior official of the force said this evening. He said the jawan was admitted to a medical facility for treatment.

“The unprovoked Pakistani aggression is being effectively retaliated,” he added. A woman Shaheena Begun was injured in Keran sector along the LoC in Kashmir in shelling by Pakistani troops this morning, officials said. They said the Indian army retaliated the “unprovoked” Pakistani aggression “in equal measure”.

Pakistan Rangers also indulged in cross-border firing and shelling in RS Pura and Kathua sectors along the International Border. BSF constable Nitin Subhash sustained grievous injuries last evening when an explosion inside the chamber of the long range weapon led to a recoil while he was firing in retaliation to ceasefire violation from across the LoC in Machchil sector, BSF IG (Kashmir) Vikash Chandra said.

Four army and three BSF personnel have died in the latest escalation along the boundary with Pakistan in Jammu and Kashmir. In last night’s attack, one militant was also killed.

(With PTI inputs)