Srinagar : With three civilians dead along the Line of Control (LoC) in “Pakistani” shelling here in frontier district of north Kashmir on Sunday, Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, reviewed the situation with National security advisor Ajit Doval and other top officials.
8-year-old boy was among three who died along the Line of control. The Indian Army lost its 5 personal of Special Forces last week in a deadly gun battle at Jumgund area of North Kashmir Kupwara District. Five militants were also killed.
Top sources told Kashmir Indepth News Service (KINS) that both Home Minister and Defence Minister denounced the killings and took stock of the situation along the International Border (IB) and the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir.
“National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and top officials of the ministries of Home and Defence, briefed Amit Shah and Rajnath Singh on the latest situation along the Line of Control, sources told KINS.
Sources said that a possible strategy to deal with the Pakistan shelling, infiltration along the LoC was also discussed.
“The top security brass also briefed both the ministers about steps already taken to counter “firing by Pakistani forces and possible infiltration on LOC,” sources said.
Sources said that security forces have been asked to remain all-out alert.
The Border Security Force (BSF) under the administrative control of Ministry of Home Affairs and the Indian Armed Forces under the management of the Ministry of Defence (MoD) of the Government of India are deployed on Line of control in the Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
Sources said that intelligence agencies have reported that in view of the coronavirus pandemic spreading chaos everywhere, “Pakistan army was trying to take advantage of the crisis and push militants into Jammu and Kashmir”.
The Army said that in the recent days, several attempts were made by the infiltrators in Kupwara, Poonch and Rajouri districts of Jammu region.
“There were a total of 646 incidents of ceasefire violations along the International Border (IB) as well as the LoC between January 1 and February 23 this year”, Minister of State for Defence Shripad Naik said in March.
Over 3,200 ceasefire violations by Pakistan troops were recorded in 2019. There is 198 km IB and over 510 km of LoC with Pakistan in Jammu and Kashmir.
It is to mention here that a minor and a woman were among three civilians killed as the “Pakistani army violated the ceasefire by resorting to the firing of small arms and mortar shelling” along the Line of Control (LoC) in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district on Sunday.
The deceased were identified as Shameena Begum, Javeed Khan and Zayan, an 8-year-old boy.
Army said Pakistan targeted Shararat post, Jal Black Rock, and Anil posts along the LoC and resorted to heavy mortar shelling.
Several shells landed in civilian areas, damaging houses and killing three civilians, they said. This comes just a day after massive cross border shelling was reported in the area.
One of the Army officials told KINS that Pakistan resorted to unprovoked ceasefire violation creating fear among the local population and targeted Indian army posts. “The initial fire had started from Hajitara, Dhani and later the firing spread in the areas like Manzgam, Malikpora, TCP, Hafrada, Kralpora and Tumna Hachimarg Chowkibal,” he said and added that shelling was started by Pakistan and Indian army responded in equal proportions. (KINS)
