Rajouri Ceasefire: Army Vows a Befitting Reply to Pakistan

The attack claimed the life of Captain Kapil Kundu, Havildar Roshan Lal and Riflemen Ramavatar and Subham Singh.

Image used for representational purposes only. 

(Photo: Reuters)

The Army on Monday, 5 February, clearly indicated it would take retaliatory action against the killing of four army men in heavy shelling by Pakistani forces along the LoC in the Rajouri district of Jammu and Kashmir, saying that its action would speak for itself.

Vice chief Lt Gen Sarath Chand said the Army has been responding appropriately to Pakistan shelling, asserting that India will continue to give a "befitting reply" to such acts.

"That (retaliation) goes without saying, I think I don't have to say that. (Our) action will speak for itself," he said when asked about the killing of a Captain and three other Army men in the Rajouri sector.

Pakistani forces opened unprovoked heavy firing and shelling along the LoC in Bhimbher Gali sector of Rajouri district on the evening of 4 February, senior Army officials told PTI.

Four soldiers were killed and at least four others were injured in shelling. Three jawans were killed on the spot, while an Army Captain succumbed to his bullet wounds later. At least four others were injured in the shelling, officials said.

Chand also accused the Pakistani Army of supporting the infiltration of terrorists into Jammu and Kashmir.

"We will continue with our process of giving a befitting reply (to such acts)," he told reporters on the sidelines of an event here, adding that there were even incidents of mutilation of bodies of jawans last year.

"We have been responding appropriately," he said.

"There has been cross-border shelling from their (Pakistan's) side. And one of the shells landed near the officer and his men, leading to the casualties," he said when asked about yesterday's shelling.

Mortal Remains of Martyrs Taken Home

The attack claimed the life of Captain Kapil Kundu, Havildar Roshan Lal, Ramavatar and 23-year-old Subham Singh.

Meanwhile, mortal remains of Havaldar Roshan Lal were brought to his home in Samba. Mortal remains of Captain Kapil Kundu were brought to Delhi's Palam airport to be sent home.

Army Chief Bipin Rawat paid tribute to Captain Kundu at the Delhi airport.

Pakistan Will Be Dealt With Appropriately: Rajnath Singh

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday, 5 February, condemned the cross-border firing by Pakistan, saying he has full faith in the valour of the Indian Army and they shall "give proper reply" to the neighbour, reported IANS.

According to the Rajouri District Collector, all 84 schools in the area will stay shut on 5 February for security reasons, reported ANI.

In the wake of ceasefire violation, we have closed all 84 schools as a precautionary measure and have pressed into action our emergency evacuation teams. We have established relief camps and will be shifting people there in case of any emergency.

SI Choudhary, DC, Rajouri to ANI

Authorities in Poonch have issued an advisory asking people to stay inside their homes.

Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti expressed pain at the soldiers’ deaths along the LoC. “My condolences to the families of the deceased,” she said.

Leaders Call for Action

The Opposition read out the matter of ceasefire violations in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly on 5 February, a day after the attack.

Expressing grief over the death of Indian soldiers in a ceasefire violation by Pakistan in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K), West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday said their "sacrifice for the nation will not go down in vain", reported IANS.

ANI quoted Minister of State for Home Affairs Hansraj Gangaram Ahir as saying that these frequent ceasefire violations would cost Pakistan dearly.

We will not forgive Pakistan’s actions. It will prove to be Pakistan’s foolishness and will cost them dearly.

Hansraj Gangaram Ahir, Minister of State, Home Affairs

Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut told reporters that an unprovoked attack by Pakistan means war.

“Ceasefire violations ki baat chhor dijiye. Ye seedha yudh hai, ye hamla hai aur uska jawab ussi tareeke se dena chahiye, (This is not about just ceasefire violations, this is war and India must give them a strong response),” he told ANI.

What is the point of having an impressive military arsenal if it is just for exhibition and impressing foreign leaders at the Republic Day parade. Pakistan has used missiles in attacking our jawans in Rajouri, are our missiles just for exhibiting and gathering applause at Rajpath? Are they just for showing to the Foreign Heads on 26 Jan?

Congress leader Saifuddin Soz said that the two sides cannot afford to have a war and that the issue of Kashmir can should be resolved by dialogue.

<i>Yeh meri zindagi ka tajurba hai</i>, India will say we will retaliate, Pakistan will say that we are also a nuclear power. We cannot afford to have a war between the two nations. The only solution is dialogue. The issue of Kashmir should be resolved by talking.

Saifuddin Soz

Who Are the Martyrs?

The attack claimed the life of Captain Kapil Kundu, a resident of village Ransika in Haryana's Gurgaon district. His life was cut short six days before his 23rd birthday.

The other three deceased soldiers have been identified as Havildar Roshan Lal, a 42-year-old resident of Samba district and riflemen, 27-year-old Ramavatar of Gwalior in Madhya Pradesh and 23-year-old Subham Singh of J&K's Kathua district.

Havildar Rohsan Lal, 42, who lost his life in the shelling.

Riflemen Ramavatar of Gwalior, one of the four killed.

Captain Kapil Kundu, 22, who lost his life.

Subham Singh of J&K’s Kathua district.

As the family of Roshan Lal mourned his demise, scenes were different in Rifleman Shubham Singh’s village as the people staged protests against Pakistan in Kathua district of Jammu and Kashmir.

People of village of Rifleman Shubham Singh hold protests against Pakistan in Mukundpur.(Photo: ANI)

The martyrdom of Indian Army soldiers will not go in vain. The unprovoked action by the Pakistan Army will be given a befitting response.

Army official

Second Ceasefire Violation of the Day

Earlier on Sunday, 4 February, two teenagers and a jawan were injured in Shahpur sector of Poonch district in shelling from across the border, a police official said.

He identified the injured civilians as Shahnaz Bano (15) and Yasin Arif (14), residents of Islamabad village.

A Defence spokesman said that the Pakistan Army initiated unprovoked and indiscriminate firing of small arms, automatic weapons and mortars around 11.10 hours. The Indian Army retaliated strongly and effectively, he said.

In January alone eight civilians and six security personnel were killed and around 70 injured in ceasefire violations by Pakistan troops along Indo-Pak border in Jammu region.

Pakistani troops carried out intense shelling along the IB in Jammu, Kathua and Samba districts and LoC in Poonch and Rajouri districts from 18 January to 22 January. While there were no ceasefire violations by Pakistan reported along the IB since 22 January, intermittent shelling has taken place along the LoC.

(With inputs from IANS, ANI and PTI)

(This story has been updated with details.)