Firing along Poonch LoC for second day

Jammu, Feb 9: The Pakistan Army fired mortar bombs at forward posts along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch district for the second day on Sunday, a defence spokesperson said.

No casualty was reported in the Pakistani firing, he said.

The latest ‘ceasefire violation’ by the neighbouring nation took place in Balakot and Mendhar sectors, prompting retaliation by the Indian Army, he said.

The firing and intense mortar shelling from across the border in the two sectors started at around 12.50 pm and was going on when last reports were received.

On Saturday, an Indian soldier was killed and three others were injured in the heavy firing and shelling in Degwar sector of Poonch district.

Naik Rajeev Singh Shekhawat, 36, belonged to Rajasthan’s Jaipur district. He is survived by his wife, Usha Shekhawat.

The Army on Sunday paid tributes with full military honours to Naik Shekhawat.

Senior officers paid last respects to the killed soldiers at a wreath-laying ceremony organised at the Air force Station in Jammu, officials said. General Officer Commanding-in-chief of Northern Command Lt Gen YK Joshi and General Officer Commanding of the elite White Knight Corps Lt Gen Harsha Gupta also saluted the soldier and conveyed condolences to the bereaved family.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by The Kashmir Monitor staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)