The Army on Thursday denied that it initiated the ongoing bloody combats along the Line of Control (LOC) by raiding a Pakistani military post in Haji Pir area facing Charunda village of Uri sector on January 6 as claimed in a report published in a national daily. Pakistan had alleged that one of its soldiers was killed and another wounded in the attack.
“No LoC transgression has been resorted to by the Indian Army in Uri sector on January 6, 2013 as alleged. Pakistan carried out ceasefire violations on the night of January 5 and 6 which evoked only a controlled retaliation by own (Indian) side on January 6,” a statement issued by Army’s Srinagar-based 15 (Chinar) Corps said.
A national daily had reported on Thursday that after the 70-year-old woman Reshma Bi, a resident of Chandura, crossed the de facto border to be with her sons in PoK on September 11, 2012 unhindered, alarmed Indian Army’s commanders responded by ordering new observation posts in the area which was a violation of the November 2003 ceasefire agreement. The report further said that Pakistan made its displeasure known including by making announcements over a public address system, demanding that Indian troops end the construction and then by firing. According to the report, the matters came to a head on January 6 when following a low-grade exchange of fire that night, 19 Infantry Division Commander Gulab Singh Rawat sought and obtained permission for aggressive action against the Pakistani position from where his troops were being targeted. Pakistan had alleged that the Indian troops raided its Sawan Patra post in Haji Pir area killing a soldier and wounding another.
The statement by Army here said “Certain aspects mentioned in the article are factually incorrect.” It said the recent ceasefire violations cannot be linked to the incident of 70-year-old woman’s crossing the LoC sixteen months ago. It also denied any announcements were made over a public address system by Pakistani army demanding a halt to any construction work.
The Army also said that Major-General G. S. Rawat is not the General-officer-Commanding of the 19 Infantry Division but it is being headed by Maj. Gen. Khandare.