Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Dec 10: At least five Pakistan army personnel were killed and three others injured in retaliatory action by the Indian troops across Poonch sector along the Line of Control (LoC) while several houses were damaged in Pakistani shelling and firing in forward area of Mankote in Poonch district today.
Sources said retaliatory action by the Indian Army was necessitated as the Pakistani troops were raining mortars and bullets on the civilian population in Mankote and surrounding areas of Poonch since last night. Click here to watch video
At least five Pakistan army personnel were killed and three others were injured.
Pakistan army, however, confirmed killing of their two jawans and identified them as Lance Naik Tariq and Sepoy Zaroof. Pakistan army, as per their official policy, doesn’t admit the killing of their jawans in retaliatory action by the Indian troops. It said the casualties took place in Pakistan’s Khui Ratta sector.
“Several bunkers and posts of the Pakistan army have also been damaged in the Indian action,” sources said.
In heavy mortar shelling and firing by the Pakistan army, several houses were today damaged in Mankote area of Poonch district while many civilians had narrow escape.
Pakistan’ shelling created panic among the people living in forward areas and most of them took shelter in bunkers.
Shelling and firing lasted about two hours.
Meanwhile, a drone was spotted flying over the International Border (IB) in R S Pura sector last night.
Alert BSF troops guarding the IB at a border outpost fired on the drone last night, forcing it to return, sources said.
There have been instances of Pakistan, its army and intelligence agencies using drones along the IB and LoC to ferry weapons, ammunition, explosive material and narcotics into Jammu and Kashmir in the past six months.
On November 29, alert security forces deployed on the International Border (IB) with Pakistan spotted a drone in arnia sector of Jammu district.
On November 21, drone movement was noticed in Mendhar sector along the LoC amid a surge in ceasefire violations by the Pakistani Army, according to sources.
Two drones were spotted and crossed the IB in Samba sector on November 20.
On June 20, a Pakistani drone loaded with a sophisticated rifle and seven grenades was shot down by the Border Security Force along the International Border in Kathua district.
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