Pak terrorists kill army jawan, mutilate body; one militant gunned down, as cross-border fire rages in Kashmir

Srinagar: An army jawan was on Friday killed in an encounter with terrorists who later mutilated his body near the Line of Control in Kashmir's Kupwara district, even as the Pakistani troops intensified their cross-border fire over the past two weeks, killing and injuring several people on the border.

The terrorists fled to Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir (PoK) after the attack. One militant was also killed in the gunbattle. 

In a brief statement, the army said that an "appropriate response" will be given.

The army said a gunfight took place close to the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir`s Machhal sector on Friday evening, in which one soldier and a terrorist were killed.

"In a despicable act, the terrorists mutilated the body of the Indian army soldier before fleeing into POK, supported by covering fire from Pakistani Army posts.

"This barbarism is a true reflection which pervades official and non-official organisations across the border. This act will invite an appropriate response," it said.

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He said the incident reflected the barbarism pervading in official and unofficial organisations in Pakistan.

Meanwhile, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar and the PMO have been briefed about the situation on the border.

The development comes even as the Border Security Forces have killed at least 15 Pakistani soldiers in the past one week in retaliatory cross-border firing.

The fatalities took place after the BSF responded with heavy weapons fire in retaliation to the repeated Pakistani ceasefire violations, the NDTV reported.

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Two Pakistani Frontier Force soldiers and 13 Rangers were reportedly killed.

Citing sources, a media report said that Indian intelligence agencies have intercepted calls from hospitals asking for help to treat the injured.

"There are ceasefire violations repeatedly, we are giving a befitting reply. As far as our people have seen, what we have assessed is at least 15 rangers have been killed," the report quoted Arun Kumar, a senior BSF officer, as saying.

The latest casualty figure comes after the BSF reportedly killed seven Pakistani soldiers along the Border exactly a week ago.

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Quoting officials, the report said that cross-border firing has been on for the last 24 hours in Rajouri, Samba, Abdullia, RS Pura and Suchetgarh.

The fresh clashes erupted after heavy shelling from the Pakistani side that began around 5 am along the Line of Control in Nowshera, Sundarbani and Pallanwala districts.

On Thursday, BSF soldier Jitender Singh died when Pakistani Rangers fired a mortar shell in RS Pura sector.

"Yesterday, unprovoked ceasefire violation continued till night. It again started at three places this morning. We are giving them an appropriate response," the report said quoting Defence Ministry spokesperson Manish Mehta.

Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday had urged the BSF to give a "fitting response".

(With agency inputs)