Pak troops violate ceasefire twice, three soldiers killed

Srinagar/Islamabad, Sept 1 (PTI) An Indian Junior
Commissioned Officer and three Pakistani soldiers were killed
in first major violation of ceasefire in Kashmir valley this
year, when troops from the two sides traded heavy gunfire,
officials said.
The violation took place in the key Keran sector in north
Kashmir, which is the major ingress route of the militants
from across the border and comes on the heels of another big
infiltration bid from the adjacent Gurez sector.
"There were two ceasefire violations in Keran sector of
Kupwara district from across the Line of Control since 2000
hours Wednesday," Defence spokesman Lt Colonel J S Brar said
adding that heavy mortars and machine guns were used.
The JCO, who was killed, was identified by the army as
Naib Subedar Gurdayal Singh.
Pakistan Army spokesman Major General Athar Abbas told
Geo News in Islamabad that three Pakistani soldiers were
killed in the gun battle. He claimed that Indian forces had
fired across the border "unprovoked".
He identified the soldiers as belonging to irregular
Mujahid battalion.
Abbas said the soldiers had been moving between forward
posts when they got lost in bad weather in the Neelam valley.
He said a meeting has been requested with local Indian
commanders to investigate the violation.
Reacting to Pakistan army's claim, Brar said there was no
ceasefire violation from Indian side.
"There was an infiltration bid by militants in Keran
sector which was foiled by our troops. We lost one JCO in the
operation," Brar said.

Brar later said the Pakistani troops twice violated the
ceasefire by shelling forward posts.
The first ceasefire violation took place at 2000 hours
(IST) on Wednesday and the firing from other side of LoC
continued for nearly 50 minutes.
The second ceasefire violation began at 1100 hours (IST)
on Thursday and the exchange of fire was continuing till last
reports came in, he said.
Official sources said the Pakistani troops stationed at
Saheli post opened unprovoked firing at Shalapathri post on
Indian side of LoC on Wednesday, leaving a soldier injured.
The sources said the ceasefire violations from Pakistani
side were apparently aimed at giving cover to militants trying
to infiltrate into Kashmir ahead of snowfall which will close
all passes along the rugged terrain of LoC.