Srinagar, December 25: An Indian Army soldier was martyred in firing by Pakistani troops in Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday. According to sources quoted by news agency ANI, Pakistan violated the ceasefire across the Line of Control (LoC) in the Uri sector of Jammu and Kashmir. A soldier and a civilian died in the firing, they added. The identity of the martyred soldier and the civilian was not immediately known. The Indian Army retaliated to Pakistani troops unprovoked firing. Jammu and Kashmir: Ceasefire Violated by Pakistan Along LoC to Provide Cover to Infiltrating Militants, Says IG BSF Ajmal Singh.

Last week, Pakistan resorted to another ceasefire violation across the LoC in the Keri Battal and Sunderbani sectors in Rajouri district. Pakistani troops fired small arms and resorted to mortar shelling. The Indian forces retaliated befittingly. There was heavy exchange of fire in the Akhnoor sector as well. On December 18, Indian Army Chief General Bipin Rawat stated that the situation along the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir can escalate at any time. Jammu and Kashmir: Indian Army Causes Heavy Damage to Pakistan Side After 2 Soldiers, 1 Civilian Killed in Ceasefire Violation.

General Rawat made the remark in the backdrop of spurt in ceasefire violation by Pakistan in Jammu and Kashmir since the abrogation of Article 370 in August. The government had revoked Article 370, which accorded special status to Jammu and Kashmir, on August 5 and also bifurcated the state into two Union Territories - Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. The government has informed Rajya Sabha that there have been 950 incidents of ceasefire violation along the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir from August to October.

"There have been 950 incidents of Ceasefire Violations along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir region during the last three months (August to October 2019)," Minister of State for Defence, Shripad Naik had said in a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Dec 25, 2019 07:00 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).