Politics

No let up from the Pakistan army even during Ramzan, teenager killed in mortar shelling in Poonch

The line of control between India and Pakistan is once again hotting up in Jammu and Kashmir

May 1, 2020

The Pakistan army used small arms fire and mortar shelling to target the Indian positions

With the beginning of the holy month of Ramzan, there has been no let-up from the Pakistan army as it is continuously violating the ceasefire agreement and targeting the civilian population. For the last four days, the Pakistan army is resorting to ‘unprovoked’ ceasefire violation especially when it is time for local residents to break their fast during Iftaar.

On Thursday, a teenager, gearing up to offer prayers after breaking the day-long fast was killed in heavy mortar shelling from across the line of control.

Ground reports suggested a class 12th student identified as Gulfaraz, of village Tain Mankote in Mendhar tehsil of Poonch was killed after splinters of a mortar shell punctured his chest. The teenager died on the spot after bleeding profusely. The family members and local villagers could not shift him to a nearby hospital in the wake of continuous shelling.

Since Monday, the Pakistan army is targeting civilian population and forward posts of the Indian army to escalate the tensions along the line of control.

Ministry of Defence Spokesman in Jammu, Lt-Col Devender Anand said, Pakistan army resorted to unprovoked ceasefire violation around 7.00 p.m in the Mankote sector of Poonch on Thursday. He said the Pakistan army used small arms fire and mortar shelling to target the Indian positions. In response, he said the Indian army gave them a befitting reply.

Unconfirmed reports from across the line of control claimed, several Pakistan army soldiers were badly hit in the retaliatory action by the Indian army. Since Monday, the Pakistan army is targeting civilian population and forward posts of the Indian army to escalate the tensions along the line of control.

Terrorists gathering at terror launch pads before infiltrating

According to the recent assessments made by the various security agencies, a large number of terrorists have been camping across two dozen launching pads in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (POK).

Rough estimate suggested around 300 terrorists are camping at these launch pads to sneak inside the Indian territory. The Indian army is already maintaining a high level of alertness to foil nefarious designs of the Pakistan army to push these trained terrorists inside the Indian territory. Indian army is maintaining a tight vigil along with the mountain passes and has also rushed additional troops to plug in the gaps along the traditional infiltration routes.

Due to prevailing lockdown conditions, it is becoming difficult for the hiding group of terrorists to shift from one hideout to another.

Security forces eliminating terrorists in hinterland

For the last one week, joint teams of security forces in Kashmir valley are conducting anti-terrorist operations to flush out terrorists from the hinterland on a daily basis.

Displaying excellent synergy the joint teams of the Indian army, paramilitary forces, and Jammu and Kashmir police have so far neutralized around 18 terrorists in more than half a dozen anti-terrorist operations.

Since the beginning of the holy month of Ramzan, security forces have been receiving real-time inputs about the presence of terrorists and conducting operations without suffering any major collateral damage. Due to prevailing lockdown conditions, it is becoming difficult for the hiding group of terrorists to shift from one hideout to another.

Three terrorists were killed in Shopian at the end of night long operations on Wednesday. An equal number of terrorists were eliminated in Lower Munda area of Kulgam on Monday by the security forces while one close associate of terrorists was killed in a fierce gunfight in the Asthal area of Kulgam late Sunday night.

After eliminating local terrorists in some of these recent operations, the police also refused to hand over the dead bodies of these terrorists to their families to prevent large gatherings during their funeral processions in the wake of an outbreak of Coronavirus in Kashmir.

Note:
1. The views expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of PGurus.