BORDER FLAREUP RS Pura, Akhnoor, KG sectors targeted; toll mounts to 10 since Wednesday; schools near IB, LoC shut for 3 days
JAMMU: Four people, including three civilians and an army soldier, were killed and over a dozen others injured on the International Border and the Line of Control (LoC) in relentless ceasefire violations by Pakistan in Jammu region on Wednesday.
Eleven others, including two Border Security Force (BSF) men, were also injured.
Saturday’s casualties have taken the death toll to 10 since Wednesday.
“Pakistan Rangers targeted over 30 Indian posts and border villages from RS Pura sector to Akhnoor sector north of Jammu since 5.40 am,” said a BSF spokesperson. Within a few hours, they opened up another front along the LoC in Poonch.
Northern Command spokesman Colonel NN Joshi said, “Pakistan Army initiated unprovoked and indiscriminate firing of small arms and automatics at 8.20 am in KG sector. Our troops retaliated effectively. However, Sepoy Mandeep Singh, 23, belonging to Punjab, was grievously injured. The armyman later succumbed to his injuries,”
Sepoy Mandeep Singh belonged to Alampur village in Sangrur district and is survived by his father Gurnam Singh.
The firing also killed 17-yearold Ghara Singh, son of Ashok Kumar of Kapoorpur village, and 45-year-old Ghar Singh of Bera village in RS Pura sector of Jammu district.
As the shelling continued, another civilian Tarsem Kumar, 32, son of Bansi Lal of Gajansoo village in Kanachak sector of Jammu district was killed later in the day.
“Tarsem was brought dead at the Government Medical College and Hospital in Jammu. He was hit by Pak shelling and probably died enroute,” said a cop posted at the GMC police post.
Will join army to avenge his death, vows sepoy’s brother
I am proud of my brother who has sacrificed his life. I will join the army. JAGDEEP SINGH, brother
SANGRUR: Brother of sepoy Mandeep Singh, 23, killed in unprovoked ceasefire violation by Pakistan in the Krishna Ghati sector in Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday, vowed to join the Indian Army to avenge the killing.
As father Gurnam Singh sat unmoving in a corner, too shocked to speak, the sepoy’s younger brother, Jagdeep Singh, 20, said, “I am proud of my brother who has sacrificed his life for the country. I will also join the army to kill the country’s enemies,” Jagdeep said.
He added that he had spoken to his brother over phone two days ago.
Residents of Mandeep’s native village of Alampur in Moonak sub-division, around 70km from Sangrur, are also in shock.
Mandeep, who had last visited home in February, was supposed to visit again to make arrangements for the wedding of his sister next month.
He had joined the 22 Sikh regiment around three years ago. His uncle Nirmal Singh is also an ex-serviceman.
“My nephew was a brave soldier. He wanted to buy a motorcycle when he visited home next to make arrangements for his sister’s wedding,” said Nirmal.
“Mandeep’s body will reach the village either on Sunday evening or Monday morning,” said Jasvir Singh, Lehra station house officer.
