Soldier, two civilians martyred in Indian firing across LoC

RAWALPINDI: Indian forces once again violated the ceasefire agreement resorting to unprovoked firing across the Line of Control (LoC) late Friday, the Pakistani military said, which resulted in martyrdom of a junior commissioned officer (JCO) and two civilians. This is the second ceasefire violation by the Indian forces during the last 72 hours. The unprovoked fire came in Rakh Chikri area of Rawalakot, Azad Kashmir, in which the Indian troops targeted civilian population through heavy weapons, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement. One martyred, three injured in Indian firing across LoC The deceased was identified as 22-year-old Mohammad Raziq while the injured include three women and a 14-year-old boy The cross-border heavy firing resulted in martyrdom of two civilians, including a woman, while another was wounded. A patrol team of Pakistan Army, assisting evacuation of civilians, also came under fire from across the LoC, which resulted in martyrdom of Naib Subedar Nadeem and injuries to three other soldiers, the statement read. The Pakistan Army gave a fitting response to Indian hostility targeting enemy posts which engaged civilian population, the ISPR stated further. There have been reports of casualties on the Indian side of the LoC, it added. Earlier on Wednesday, one civilian embraced martyrdom and four others were wounded after Indian forces resorted to unprovoked fire in Nakyal sector in Azad Kashmir. The Pakistan Army had inflicted casualties and heavy losses on the Indian posts in retaliation. NSC expresses concern over repeated Indian violations along LoC Meeting participants condemned the Indian atrocities against Kashmiris Pakistan has time and again expressed concerns and protested with over the ceasefire violations and targeting of its civilians. On Friday, top civilian and military leaders expressed serious concerns over repeated violations by India of the ceasefire agreement along the LoC. The meeting of the National Security Committee, chaired by Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, also condemned Indian atrocities against the people of Indian-occupied Kashmir. The shelling by Indian forces along the LoC has resulted in martyrdom of several people, the NSC noted in a press statement.