Pak violates truce again, kills Army jawan, 9-year-old girl

A nine-year-old girl and an Army jawan were killed and four others injured on Monday in heavy firing and mortar shelling by Pakistani troops at various places along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir, officials said. The Indian Army retaliated, triggering heavy exchanges, they said.

In Rajouri, the administration sounded alert and advised the residents to stay indoors in the wake of the Pakistani shelling, Deputy Commissioner Shahid Iqbal Choudhary said.

The Pakistani action affected a population of 4500-5000 in villages of Panjgrain, Rajdhani and Naika in Rajouri-Poonch belt, he added.

"The Pakistan Army initiated unprovoked firing on Indian Army posts in Rajouri sector and Poonch district around 0730 hours. The Indian Army retaliated strongly and effectively," a Defence spokesman said. In the exchange of fire, Naik Muddasar Ahmed was grievously injured when mortar shells landed on his bunker, the spokesman said, adding that he succumbed to his injuries later.

The 37-year-old jawan is survived by wife Shaheena Muddasar and two children.

"Ahmed was a brave and sincere soldier. He loved his job to the core," the spokesman said, adding "The nation will always remain indebted to him for the supreme sacrifice and devotion to duty." The Pakistani troops also targeted civilian areas in Balakote, Manjakote and Baroti belts of Rajouri, a police officer said.

In the firing and shelling, 9-year-old Sajada Houser was killed at Baroti, the officer said.

"Heavy mortal shelling was reported in forward areas of Tehsil Manjakote in Rajouri this morning. A population of 4500-5000 in villages of Panjgrain, Rajdhani and Naika among others was affected," Choudhary said.

Two civilians were injured in the shelling, he said, adding one seriously injured Shah Begum was admitted in district hospital while other injured Sharief Ahmed was given first aid.

"District Administration ordered closure of all schools early morning. However, 120 students were held up in Government School at Panjgrain and on report of headmaster, senior officers coordinated for their safe evacuation as shelling was reported of have affected nearby area," the DC said.

"The firing and shelling exchanges stopped at 1,445 hours," the defence spokesman said.

Later in the day, Pakistani troops resorted to unprovoked firing at three villages in Kamalkote area of Uri in Baramulla district at around 3 pm, defence sources said.

Three unidentified militants were on Monday killed by the security forces in an encounter in Anantnag district of south Kashmir, said defence officials.

The encounter broke out at around 8 pm at Wanihama village of Anantnag, following an anti-militancy operation launched by the security forces, said a defence spokesman.

He added that three militants were killed in the ensuing gunbattle.

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has roped in tax officials to probe trans-LoC trade and alleged receipt of money by separatists groups in the Kashmir Valley, believed to be the main source of terror financing, officials said today.

The Centre has allowed the deputation of officers of the Indian Revenue Service (Customs and Central Excise) in the NIA to help the investigators probe the multi-layered trade transactions, they said.

The federal agency to probe terrorism-related cases had in December registered a case to look into the barter trade at the Line of Control (LoC) through Salamabad in north Kashmir's Baramulla district and Chakan-Da-Bagh in the Poonch district of Jammu region. The IRS officials would also extend help in the money trail and in unearthing alleged 'benami' property and transactions made by some separatists groups in the Valley, the officials, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said.

The finance ministry recently allowed an IRS officer to join the NIA for an initial period of four months to look into various cross-border trade related cases being probed by the agency, they said.

It is expected that a few more tax officials may join the agency, the officials said.

The IRS officers' expertise lies in detecting service tax, central excise (which are now subsumed in the GST) and custom duty evasion. Two key intelligence agencies of the finance ministry –the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence and Directorate General of Goods and Services Tax Intelligence –are manned by these officers. The NIA claimed it has got crucial leads from the analysis of voluminous trade-related documents seized by it in raids conducted recently in connection with this case.

There is a case of over- and under-invoicing in which almonds are brought in for Rs 600-650 per kg as against Rs 250-300 per kg. The huge margin in the trade is suspected to have been exploited by terrorists, the officials said.

According to the cross-LoC trade agreement between India and Pakistan, products grown in both sides of Kashmir will be exchanged under the barter system. The products included 'badam giri' (almond) grown in parts of Pakistan-occupied- Kashmir (PoK).