The Indian Army on Wednesday launched an assault along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir, a day after three soldiers were killed in cross-border firing in the state, NDTV reported. The Army has said that one of the bodies was badly mutilated by the Pakistani forces, which they have denied in a statement.

After Tuesday’s casualty, the Northern Command had said that retribution would be heavy for “this cowardly act”. The offensive is centred around the Poonch, Rajouri, Kel and Machil district of Jammu and Kashmir. The Indian forces are reportedly using 120 mm heavy mortars and machine guns as they target Pakistani army posts along the Line of Control.

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On Monday, a Border Security Force head constable Rai Singh succumbed to his injuries sustained during cross-border firing in the Rajouri district of Jammu and Kashmir. On Sunday, another BSF jawan and a civilian were injured in cross-border firing. Two houses were also damaged during the firing when the Pakistani Army targeted Indian Army posts and civilian areas in Nowshera and Sunderbani sectors of Rajourim officials said.

Reports of ceasefire violations by Pakistan have increased since the surgical strikes were conducted on September 29. The strikes by the Indian Army came after militants on September 18 attacked an Army installation in Uri, killing 19 soldiers. India had accused Pakistan of being involved in the attack, but Islamabad had dismissed the allegations as “baseless”.

Pakistan, on its part, has formed a committee to come up with a “a doable and sustainable India-Kashmir policy”. The high-level panel will prepare fact sheets, counter India’s “propaganda campaign” and formulate a media strategy to highlight the Kashmir issue. The committee comprises senior officials from the ministries of defence, and interior and information, as well as the Military Operations Directorate, Inter-Services Intelligence and the country’s Intelligence Bureau, Dawn reported on Wednesday.