Army jawan, militant killed on LoC

Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Oct 28:  A soldier was killed in an ambush on the Line of Control (LoC) in Macchil sector in North Kashmir’s Kupwara district while India and Pakistani troops exchanged fire in the sector.
Sources said that militants ambushed an Army patrol on the LoC near Bajjar post in Macchil sector and killed an Army jawan, identified as Rifleman Mandeep. They mutilated the body of the soldier before fleeing back to Pakistan.
Sources said that attack was followed by heavy shelling between Indian and Pakistani troops along the sector. They said that the Pakistani troops targeted 14 forward posts in the sector and Army retaliated.
A Defence spokesman said here: “In an encounter close to the Line of Control in Macchil sector today evening, one soldier has been martyred and one terrorist killed. In a despicable act, the terrorists mutilated the body of the Indian Army soldier before fleeing into PoK, supported by covering fire from Pak army posts. This barbarism is a true reflection which pervades official and non-official organisations across the border. This act will invite an appropriate response.”
Earlier, army paid rich tributes to Rifleman Sandeep Singh Rawat, who was killed during along the LOC in Tangdhar sector yesterday.
“Rich tributes were paid by the army to its valiant soldier Rifleman Sandeep Singh Rawat who attained martyrdom at a young age of 21 while successfully foiling an infiltration bid in Kupwara on October 27,” an army spokesman said.
Officers and other ranks laid floral wreaths on the coffin — draped in tricolour — carrying Rawat’s body.
Rawat was part of a team that had yesterday intercepted and engaged a group of infiltrating militants along the LoC in Tangdhar sector of Kupwara.
“In the ensuing gunfight, Rifleman Rawat had sustained bullet injury. After being given first-aid at the site of encounter, he was evacuated by air to 92 Base Hospital in Srinagar where he succumbed to his grievous injuries,” a Defence spokesman said.
The spokesman said Rawat, who was a proficient boxer, had won over his superiors and peers alike by his “soldierly attributes, youthful energy and an ever smiling disposition”. He is survived by his parents. The mortal remains of Rawat were taken to his native place, Dehradun, where the last rites will be performed tomorrow with full military honours.