Massive firing by Pakistan martyrs 2 Indian soldiers, India rebuts

Jammu: In escalation of armed confrontation on the International Border, India lost two soldiers on Thursday. The mortal remains of soldier Jitendra and Sandeep Rawat reached their home towns on Friday. The massive firing continued till 5 am in the morning. BSF on Thursday said it had killed a Pakistani paramilitary jawan and wounded another while it lost two of its own personnel and 9 civilians were injured in Pakistan shelling and firing in Jammu region. Pakistani forces pounded Indian border outposts and hamlets along the International Border in Kathua, Hiranagar sectors in Kathua district, R S Pura and Arnia sectors (Jammu), it also targets forward Indian posts and villages along LOC in Balakote and Mankote sectors (Poonch) and Sunderbani sector (Rajouri). Over 30 BoPs and Army posts and 35 civilian hamlets along IB and LoC in Jammu, Kathua, Rajouri and Poonch districts were targeted by Pakistan, reports said. Family of the martyr mourns his death "At 1230 and 1315 hours, BSF troops in Arnia and R S Pura sectors killed one Pakistani Ranger and seriously injured another in the retaliatory firing," a senior BSF officer said here. Pakistani Rangers somehow managed to evacuate their grievously injured colleague in the vehicle amidst exchange of fire, officer said. "Pakistani has resorted to very heavy firing which is being responded in the befitting manner," he said. Earlier, a BSF jawan died and 9 civilians were injured when Pakistani troops shelled over 15 Indian border outposts and 29 hamlets with mortar bombs and fired heavily from automatic weapons overnight in R S Pura and Arnia sectors along the International Border (IB) in Jammy district. "One BSF jawan was injured when he was hit by a bullet in R S Pura sector of Jammu district during the night," the BSF officer said. He died on his way to hospital. "There was heavy firing and mortar shelling on BoPs and villages along IB in RS Pura and Arnia sectors of Jammu district overnight and continued till this morning," a police officer said. In the shelling, six civilians were injured in Khopra Basti belt in R S Pura this morning, he said, adding the injured have been taken to hospital for treatment. In the evening  on Thursday, Pakistani Rangers opened fire and resorted to mortar shelling in Kathua and Hiranagar sectors along IB, BSF officer said, adding that a befitting reply was being given. Pakistani troops also resorted to firing along LOC in Balakote and Mankote sectors of Mendhar of Poonch district this evening, a senior army officer said. Pakistani troops also resorted to firing along LOC in Sunderbani sector of Rajouri late afternoon, the army officer said, adding troops guarding the border retaliated.