Pak relentless in New Year attacks; 2 more jawans killed in J&K

In yet another ceasefire violation to mark the New Year, Pakistani forces today killed two Indian Army jawans and injured another two.

The latest incident of firing across the mutually-agreed border by Pakistan Rangers occurred in the Tanghdar sector of Jammu & Kashmir.

"Two soldiers were killed in a blaze triggered by rocket-propelled grenades fired by Pakistan [forces] at Indian Army bunkers along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu & Kashmir Saturday," police said.

"The Pakistan Army fired RPGs towards a post of the Indian Army in Tangdhar sector. A blaze was triggered in the tall dry grass around two bunkers of the Indian Army that quickly engulfed the bunkers," the official said, adding that the injured were flown to a hospital in Srinagar.

This is the ninth incident of ceasefire violation by Pakistan in the last 10 days.

Scores of villagers were forced to migrate from border villages due to heavy shelling by Pakistani troops over twelve hours between Friday and Saturday. Two Army jawans and a woman were killed while 11 people were injured as Pakistani troops targeted villages and security posts at various places in the border state.

Reports from the border villages of Manyari, Paansar, Bobia, Londi, Sadechak, Chailari, Chachwal, Mangu Chak, Regaal, Mawa, Sadho and Chak Fakira said dozens of families had started migrating to safer places because of the shelling.

Earlier in the day, a woman was killed and eight people were injured in Pakistani shelling along the border villages of Samba and Kathua districts, police said.

The dead woman was identified as 45-year-old Toshi Devi, wife of Somnath and a resident of Mangu Chak village in Samba district.

Police said Pakistan Rangers had fired at Border Security Force outposts around 9.30 pm on Friday, whereupon the BSF retaliated.

''The firing exchange stopped at 3.30 am on Saturday but resumed in Hiranagar, Ramgarh and Samba sectors of the international border,'' police said today.

According to security agencies, Pakistan-based terrorist groups are continuously trying to infiltrate into Jammu & Kashmir under cover of cross-border firing as they aim to carry out "spectacular attacks" ahead of US President Barack Obama's visit to India.

Quoting intelligence reports, senior home ministry officials said on Friday that the terrorists were waiting for an opportunity in eight locations along the International Border and Line of Control to sneak into India.

"As per our information, the militants have the blessings of the highest authorities of Pakistan Army," an official was quoted as saying by PTI.