Srinagar/Islamabad: A young couple was killed by a mortar shell fired by Pakistani troops in a fresh ceasefire violation along the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday.
The officials identified the victims as Territorial Army sepoy Showkat Ahmed and his wife Safia. Their two children escaped with minor splinter injuries. Ahmed had taken leave and was staying at home.
The Pakistan Army violated the ceasefire and initiated indiscriminate firing from small arms, automatic weapons and mortars at 6.30 am on Indian Army posts along the LoC, a defence spokesperson said.
Indian troops retaliated Pakistan’s firing and shelling in a “befitting manner”. The exchange of small and medium weapons and mortar guns continued for a couple of hours, reports said.
After the exchange of firing, Pakistani authorities blamed Indian troops for violation of the November 2003 ceasefire agreement between the two sides.
In Islamabad, Pakistan summoned Indian deputy high commissioner J.P. Singh and claimed that two Pakistani civilians were killed and three injured in the firing from the Indian side. A military statement said the Indian forces fired small arms and heavy weapons along the Line of Control (LoC) in Chirikot and Satwal sectors. “Two individuals, including a girl, were killed and three injured,” the military said in a statement.
Director General, South Asia, Mohammad Faisal summoned the Indian diplomat and condemned the unprovoked ceasefire violations.
The deliberate targeting of civilians is indeed deplorable and contrary to human dignity and international human rights and humanitarian laws, said a foreign ministry statement.
