40 Pak men killed in attack on Indian post

40 Pak men killed in attack on Indian post
ARUN SHARMA

PALANWALLA (AKHNOOR), JAN 22: At least 40 Pakistani soldiers were killed and their post razed as the Indian Army, in its biggest operation after the end of hostilities in Kargil over five months ago, repulsed their attack from across the Line of Control (LoC) in the Palanwalla area in Jammu and Kashmir this morning.

Identifying the destroyed Pakistani post as ``Tower 12'', Brigadier Jasbir Singh said bodies of five Pakistani soldiers, including an officer and three havaldars, were retrieved from there. He said all of them belonged to 24 Baluch Regiment of Pakistan Army and that a huge quantity of arms and ammunition, including a universal machine gun, rocket-propelled guns and G-3 rifles were found.

However, two Indian Armymen were killed during the fighting while one civilian was killed and five injured during mortar shelling by Pakistani troops on nearby residential areas. The deceased have been identified as Havaldar Ujjhan Singh and Sepoy Ram Singh, both residents of Rajasthan, besides a civilian, Puran Chand of Gagriyal.

Four of the civilians injured have been identified as Bhour Chand (65), Beena Devi (35), Baby (5) and Sonu (4). More than a dozen villages along the LoC in Palanwalla area were deserted as mortar shelling by Pakistani troops on civilian areas was going on till last reports came in. The affected villagers were seen camping in the open at many places.

Giving details, Brig Jasbir Singh said the trouble started around 2.30 am when Pakistani troops, after learning on the radio that their country had won the cricket match against India, resorted to unprovoked firing on the Indian side. This was soon followed by mortar shelling from across the border with the Pakistanis making an attempt to capture an Indian post.

The Army effectively repulsed the attack, and by 4 am the Pakistani troops were seen running out of their post. Many of them were seen dragging away bodies from the bunkers.

Later the Army retrieved five bodies, along with lot of arms and ammunition, from the site. The weapons included one universal machine gun, six MP-5 carbines, three G-3 rifles, two RPGs, one pistol, a radio set and 4,500 rounds of ammunition. Besides, Pakistani currency worth Rs 4,189, Disprin tablets and a booklet containing Pakistani propaganda against India were also found.

There were many more bodies still lying on the other side which the Pakistani soldiers were trying to retrieve, Brig Singh said. He confirmed that 16 Pakistani soldiers have been killed, saying that the number can be much more. Army sources said the Pakistani post had been completely levelled.

As the fighting was in progress, the Pakistani troops from the other posts across the LoC started firing mortar shells on civilian areas, causing panic among the villagers who were asleep. The men, women and children immediately got up from their beds and started running for safety in the dark.

One civilian was killed and five others, including a woman and three children, were injured in mortar shelling. The injured were hospitalised at the Government Medical College Hospital in Jammu.

Sources said this was the sixth attempt by Pakistani troops to capture the Indian posts along the LoC after the successful ``Operation Vijay'' since July last. Pointing out that it was the third such attempt by Pakistani troops in Akhnoor sector since August 31 last, sources said they had also resorted to firing on this side of the LoC after beating India in a cricket match recently.