Indian soldier attains martyrdom
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Nov 8: Two Pakistani militants in combat dresses and an equal number of Pakistan army personnel were killed while an Indian Army soldier was martyred in heavy exchange of gunbattle in Krishna Ghati sector in Poonch district in wee hours of this morning while the enemy troops continued to violate ceasefire on the Line of Control (LoC) with a view to push the militants.
Sources told the Excelsior that Pakistan army fired mortar bombs and used automatic weapons to target forward posts of the Indian Army in Krishna Ghati sector of Poonch early today in a bid to push the militants into Indian territory from the LoC. During shelling and firing, at least four militants wearing combat dresses tried to intrude into the Indian side.
Indian Army retaliated the firing and shelling effectively and at the same time kept track on the militants, sources said, adding that in retaliatory fire at least two militants were killed and their bodies were spotted lying at the Zero Line at Nangi Tekri in Krishna Ghati sector.
Weapons and explosives were also lying alongside the slain militants.
Pakistan army fired heavily on the Indian troops when they tried to bring bodies of the two slain militants into this side. Pakistani troops, according to sources, also tried to take the bodies towards their side but were not allowed to do so by the Indian Army.
Slain militants were in combat dresses and well equipped with arms, ammunition and explosive devices. They were believed to be Pakistani cadre of Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) militant outfit. They were reportedly fidayeens (suicide squad) of Lashkar outfit.
Besides the two militants, two Pakistan army personnel were also killed in retaliatory shelling and firing by the Indian troops, which was very heavy as the Indian side was aware of major infiltration attempt by the militants in Krishna Ghati sector due to heavy presence of LeT and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) militants at launch pads on Pakistan side of the LoC.
An Indian Army soldier was martyred in Pakistan army’s firing and shelling while thwarting the infiltration attempt by the militants, aided and abetted from across the LoC.
The martyr has been identified as Sepoy Rahul Bhairu Sulagekar. He sustained gunshot wounds and was evacuated from the spot and shifted to nearby Medical Aid Centre where he was provided medical aid and resuscitation. However, he succumbed to his injuries and attained martyrdom in the hospital.
Aged 21, Sulagekar hailed from village Uchagaon, tehsil and district Belgavi in Karnataka. He is survived by his mother, Geeta.
“Rahul was a brave, highly motivated and sincere soldier. The nation will always remain indebted to him for the supreme sacrifice and devotion to duty,” a Defence spokesman said.
A wreath laying ceremony with full military honours was organized today at Air Force Station, Jammu for paying tributes to the martyr. Brigadier Vikrant Kulkarni, Officiating Station Commander, Jammu and other dignitaries laid wreath and paid tributes to the martyr.
Wreaths were also laid on behalf of the General Officer Commanding (GOC) White Knight Corps and other military authorities
Sources said Pakistan army seemed to have attempted to infiltrate four highly trained Pakistan militants of the LeT outfit into Jammu and Kashmir through the LoC in Krishna Ghati sector but the Indian troops, who were maintaining very high alert all along the LoC in twin border districts of Poonch and Rajouri, foiled the bid.
There have been specific inputs that large number of militants have come close to the LoC on Pakistan side and were stationed at launch pads with active support of Pakistan army to attempt infiltration into the Indian side getting an opportunity. However, all such intrusion bids by the militants supported by Pakistan army have been foiled by the Indian troops, sources said.
It may be mentioned here that Pakistan army has repeatedly been violating ceasefire on the LoC in Rajouri and Poonch districts since August 5 when the Central Government had scrapped special Constitutional provisions of Jammu and Kashmir and divided the State into two Union Territories of J&K and Ladakh.
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