2 BSF jawans injured in ceasefire violation in J&K's Rajouri

Srinagar: Two BSF jawans were injured on Saturday in a ceasefire violation by the Pakistan Rangers in Sunderbani sector of Jammu and Kashmir's Rajouri district. The incident took place at 4:30 pm.

The BSF personnel, manning a border outpost in Sunderbani sector, have been hospitalised.

Earlier in the day, an Army soldier, identified as Rifleman Varun Kattal (21), was shot dead by a sniper from across the border in Sunderbani sector. He was a resident of Mawa-Rajpura area of Samba district of Jammu and Kashmir.

"At about 0945 hours, unprovoked ceasefire violation was initiated by Pakistan in Sunderbani sector in which one Army soldier was shot by a sniper from across the border and later succumbed to injuries at 11.10 AM," a defence spokesperson said.

"Rifleman Kattal is survived by his parents, father Anchal Singh and mother Pinki Rani. He was a brave and sincere soldier. The nation will always remain indebted to him for the supreme sacrifice and devotion to duty," the spokesperson added.

He said the Indian Army retaliated strongly and effectively on Pakistan army posts.

The number of ceasefire violations this year by Pakistan has been the highest in the past eight years.

The first seven months of this year saw 52 deaths and 232 people getting injured in 1,435 ceasefire violations in the state, according to an RTI reply by the Home Ministry.

(With inputs from agencies)