M A I N   N E W S

10 Pak soldiers killed
15 bunkers destroyed

Jammu, May 18
Ten Pakistani soldiers were killed and 15 enemy bunkers destroyed in retaliatory firing and shelling by the Indian troops along the LoC in the Poonch and Rajouri areas of Jammu and Kashmir today, a defence spokesman said here this evening.

Pakistani troops resorted to combination of small arms firing and mortar shelling in Noushera, Rajouri and Poonch sectors this afternoon, he said.

“Indian troops effectively retaliated and heavy firing and shelling continued till this evening,” the spokesman said adding,” 10 Pakistani soldiers are confirmed to have been killed and 15 of their forward bunkers opposite LoC were destroyed.”

The exchange between two sides was continuing till last reports came in. However, its intensity had reduced, he said.

Three civilians, who had been injured in enemy firing in the Sunderbani area of Rajouri district, were hospitalised, he said. Reports from Srinagar said, four women and two BSF personnel were among nine persons injured due to shelling on forward posts and villages in Uri sector of Baramulla today. The injured were later hospitalised.

Pakistani troops, who used artillery and mortar fire, targeted the Indian side in Uri around 8.45 a.m. and were continuing it till last reports came in, sources said.

The areas hit by Pakistani shelling in Uri include Balakote, Silikote, Dachina, Uran Bawa, Talwari, Nambla Garkote, Salamabad, Kamalkote, Basgrah, Churanda, Sultan Taki, Ashim, Gawalta, Gingal and Morah.

Several Pakistani bunkers across the international border (IB) in Kathua and Jammu districts had been damaged in retaliatory fire by the Indian troops, while four security personnel had been injured on the Indian side since yesterday, the sources said.

Pakistani Rangers targeted 55 border outposts along the IB on the Indian side in R.S. Pura , Samba and Hiranagar sub-sectors with heavy firing and mortar shelling last night, forcing the security forces to retaliate. PTI