Soldier killed in Pak shelling along LoC

Jammu: An Army jawan was on Tuesday killed while four others including a lieutenant were injured as Pakistani troops shelled mortars at forward posts along the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch district of Jammu & Kashmir, officials said.

The cross-border shelling by Pakistan troops started in Krishna Ghati sector this morning and continued for over two hours, resulting in injuries to five soldiers including an officer, an Army officer said.

One of the injured soldiers later succumbed to injuries at the military hospital.

A police official said a lieutenant and two junior commissioned officers were among the injured and they were evacuated to command hospital in Udhampur district for specialized treatment.

Earlier, defence spokesman Lt Col NN Joshi said that

Pakistan Army initiated

unprovoked and indiscriminate firing from 0700 hours using small arms, automatics and mortars.

"Indian Army has retaliated strongly, effectively and proportionately to the unprovoked ceasefire violation, he said.