The Army said Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO) Prakash Chander of 8 Kumaon regiment was killed when an area-domination patrol of the Army came under fire in Uri sector, around 120 km from here.

“The firing took place close to the LoC at the Army’s Bhim post in Uroosa village in which a JCO was killed,” a Defence official in Srinagar said.

While the Army maintains that the JCO was killed in firing during patrolling, police sources said they were ascertaining if it was a ceasefire violation or an attack by infiltrators. “We are trying to ascertain the facts. But the firing took place from across (the border) and that is sure,” a source said. The firing took place near the Aman Setu that connects Kashmir with the PoK. It continued for 15-20 minutes.