Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, June 7: Just two days after new Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif took oath and promised to pursue peace with India, Pakistani troops today resorted to heavy firing and ceasefire violation on the Line of Control (LoC) at Sabjian, Mandi sub sector of Poonch district killing a Junior Commanding Officer (JCO) of Army and facilitating infiltration attempt by a group of five to six militants.
The Pakistani troops fired Rocket Propelled Grenades (RPGs), Under Barrel Grenade Launchers (UBGLs) and resorted to heavy firing from automatic Pika guns on forward Indian positions at Sabjian, Mandi sub sector of Poonch district this afternoon giving covering fire to the infiltrators through thick vegetation, thus, changing strategy of facilitating infiltration attempts during the nights only.
“On the basis of Intelligence reports that a group of five to six militants has been launched from Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK) from their G-Cantoor, N-Cantoor and Data Base Posts opposite New Bump and Khalsa-2 posts of Sabjian, Mandi sub sector, the Indian Army has launched a massive search operation along the Line of Control (LoC) to intercept and trap the militants,” official sources said.
However, they didn’t rule out the possibility of the militants having retreated to PoK.
JCO Subedar Bachan Singh, a resident of Porhi, Garhwal in Uttarakhand, belonging to 3 Garhwal, presently posted with 40 Rashtriya Rifles, was hit inside the bunker by a RPG fired by Pakistani troops at 1.10 pm today and killed on spot.
The RPG directly fell on the bunker of JCO Bachan Singh and penetrated inside killing him on spot at Khalsa-2 Post in forward area of Sabjian, Mandi sub sector of Poonch district.
Army spokesman SN Acharya said there was heavy firing from Pakistan side with RPGs, Under Barrel Grenade Launchers (UBGLs) and Pika guns at Sabjian, Mandi, which amounted to ceasefire violation, at 1.10 pm in which Subedar JCO Bachan Singh was killed. He added that the Indian troops gave calibrated response to the firing.
Sources said the firing from Pakistan side continued till 2 pm. Troops evacuated Subedar Bachan Singh from the bunker amidst Pakistani firing and shifted him to hospital, where he was declared as dead. His body would be sent to his home town at Porhi, Garhwal in Uttarakhand tomorrow morning for cremation with full military honours.
Sources added that the firing by Pakistan Army was “sudden and unprovoked” and there were immediate Intelligence reports that a group of five to six militants had been launched into Indian side through the growth of thick vegetation by 657 and 644 Mujahid Regiment of Pakistan deployed across Sabjian, Mandi sector of Poonch district.
“Immediately after the reports, troops launched massive search operations all along Sabjian, Mandi sector for the infiltrators. The infiltration routes leading to general areas have been sealed. Surveillance has been mounted allover,” they said adding that there was no way the infiltrators could enter inside as entire area has been covered by the troops.
Pointing out that there was a shift in strategy of the militants as well as Pakistan Army to infiltrate during the day time as they had been unable to sneak into this side during night hours despite several attempts due to alertness of the Army, sources said the militants tried to take advantage of thick vegetation along the LoC to intrude.
“Pakistan Army gave covering fire to the militants with a view to divert attention of the Army and push the infiltrators into this side,” sources said, adding the immediate retaliation by the troops from this side appeared to have thwarted the intrusion bid.
The Indian side was likely to launch a strong protest with Pakistan Army over the hotline tomorrow on unprovoked firing and facilitation of infiltration attempt by the militants, sources said.
This was fourth ceasefire violation on the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir during past two weeks, the previous three being reported from Uri and Nowgam sectors in the Kashmir Valley.
This was first intrusion bid by the militants and ceasefire violation by Pakistan Army on the LoC in twin border districts of Rajouri and Poonch this month.
Troops were already on high alert on the LoC in view of spurt anticipated in infiltration attempts during the summer. Army and Intelligence agencies had reports about the presence of 200 to 250 militants across the LoC, who were looking for every possible opportunity to cross over into this side. However, alertness displayed by the Army hasn’t allowed the militants to succeed in their designs.
Follow our WhatsApp channel