Two civilians were killed on Saturday morning as Pakistan allegedly violated ceasefire along the Line of Control in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir, ANI reported. Those killed were identified as an off-duty soldier, Mohammad Showkat, and his wife, said the police.
“[The] Pakistan Army began indiscriminate firing and shelling on our positions on the LoC in Gulpur area,” Defence Ministry spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Manish Mehta told IANS reported, quoting Army officials. “The firing in ongoing and our forces are effectively retaliating.”
Meanwhile, two jawans were injured in a suspected militant ambush in Bandipora district of Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday morning, ANI reported. However, a few other reports claimed that three soldiers suffered injuries. The militants targeted the convoy in Hajin area of the district. The area was cordoned off and a search operation was launched, Hindustan Times reported.
Both incidents come on the first death anniversary of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani. The Jammu and Kashmir government had heightened security across the state ahead of July 8, and nearly 21,000 additional central paramilitary troops have been deployed in the Valley. Internet services were shut down from Friday night, and separatists have called for a complete shutdown in the state.
The Hizbul Mujahideen is believed to have spread the word across the South Kashmir districts of Anantnag, Pulwama, Kulgam and Shopian that it will carry out a recruitment drive in Wani’s village on his death anniversary, according to The Times of India. The superintendents of police of all the districts, especially these four, have started “operation clean up” to round up militant group workers operating to recruit young boys.
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