Army launches counter-offensive against Pak; BSF men injured in shelling

Jammu: Army on Wednesday launched a counteroffensive against Pakistan along the LoC after three Indian soldiers were killed, with body of one of them mutilated in a cross-LoC attack, even as Pakistani troops continued to shell Indian positions, injuring two BSF jawans.

The offensive came hours after the Indian Army vowed "heavy retribution" to the attack on its soldier.

Brigadier General Staff (BGS) of Northern Command, Brig P S Gotra said India Army launched a counter offensive along the LoC in retaliation to yesterday's offensive in Machhil sector of Kashmir.

Indian Army posts are responding strongly and giving a befitting reply, Defence PRO Manish Mehta said.

Pakistan Army also fired at Indian posts along the LoC in Bhimber Gali, Krishna Ghati and Nowshera sectors.

A senior BSF officer said, "Two BSF jawans suffered minor injuries in ceasefire violation by Pakistan troops along LoC in Bhimbher Gali area of Rajouri district at 0945 hours".

In the cross-LoC attack by suspected Pakistani terrorists yesterday, three Indian soldiers were killed, with body of one of them being mutilated.

The ambush on the army patrol took place in Machhil sector of Kashmir.

The Northern Command spokesman had yesterday tweeted, "3 soldiers killed in action on LC (Line of Control) in Machhal. Body of one soldier mutilated." He said the "retribution will be heavy for this cowardly act."

This is the second such incident of mutilation of the body of an Indian soldier in the same sector since October 28.

On that day, terrorists, aided by the cover fire by Pakistani Army, had crossed the Line of Control and killed an Indian army jawan and mutilated his body in Macchil sector. One attacker was killed in that incident.

The 2003 India-Pakistan ceasefire agreement has virtually become redundant with a whopping nearly 300 incidents of firing and shelling along LoC and IB in Jammu and Kashmir by Pakistani troops that resulted in death of 26 people, including 14 security personnel, since the surgical strike on terrorist launch pads in PoK.

India and Pakistan entered into no-firing agreement along Indo-Pak border in Jammu and Kashmir in 2003.

A total of 26 people, including 14 security personnel and 12 civilians, have been killed and more than 83 suffered injuries in Pakistani shelling and firing along IB and LoC in Jammu after the surgical strikes carried out by the Indian Army on September 29 this year.