An Army soldier, identified as Lance Naik Sandeep Thappa was killed in Pakistani shelling on the Line of Control (LoC) in Nowshera sector of Rajouri District on August 17 early morning, reports Daily Excelsior. Defence spokesman said that the Indian Army retaliated Pakistan shelling and firing very effectively. “Heavy damage has been caused to Pakistan army posts and casualties to Pakistani troops have been inflicted by our Army,” he said. Sources also said that Pakistan army commando Ahmad Khan, who had mobilized well-trained militants of Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM)outfit at a forward post named ‘Khyber’ opposite Nowshera sector was reported to have been killed in the Indian retaliation. As the ‘Khyber’ post was destroyed, at least two terrorists who were planning to infiltrate into the Indian territory for major subversive act, have been eliminated, sources said, adding that the infiltration attempt has been foiled.
Pakistani troops pounded civilian areas with heavy mortar shells in Krishna Ghati and Mankote sectors along LoC in Poonch District on August 17, reports Daily Excelsior. Several mortar shells fired by Pakistan landed in civilian areas like Mankote, Balnoi, Sagra, Ghani, Dabraj, Naad and surroundings, leading to panic among the villagers but there was no report of any casualties on the Indian side. However, some structures were reported to have suffered minor damage.
Meanwhile, Pakistani troops violated ceasefire by targeting forward posts and villages along the LoC in Rajouri District for the second successive day on August 18, reports Daily Excelsior. The mortar shelling and small arms firing from across the border in Kalal area of Nowshera sector started at around 6.45 pm, prompting strong and effective retaliation by the Indian Army, a Defence spokesman said.