At least 17 Indian troopers have been killed by Pakistani Army since September 29, the day when India claimed of carrying out ‘surgical strikes’ inside Pakistan territory.An Indian Defence official told news agency CNS that since September 29, Indian and Pakistani soldiers exchanged fire in different sectors of Jammu and Kashmir for more than 300 times.We lost 17 soldiers and 12 civilians while the bodies of two of our soldiers were mutilated by Border Action Team (BAT) of Pakistani Army,” the official said adding that Pakistan too suffered heavy casualties during the period.Tensions between Pakistan and India have been running high following an alleged 'surgical strike', unrest in Kashmir and the Uri army base attack in September. Since then there have been repeated outbreaks of cross-border firing in Kashmir, with both sides reporting deaths and injuries including of civilians.
According to Defese official, the exchange of fire between India and Pakistani army have mainly taken place in Machhal sector of Kupwara, Tarkundi, Nowshera, Balakote and Mankote areas of Rajouri and Poonch districts. Some of the Indian soldiers who lost their lives have been identified as BSF head constable Rai Singh, Naik Pritam Singh, Sepoy Gursewak Singh of 22 Sikh and Naik Tukpare Rajendra Narayan of 22 Maratha Light Infantry, Mandeep Singh Rawat, Nitin Subash Koli, Sandeep Singh Rawat, BSF head constable Jitendra Singh, Head constable Sushil Kumar of Pahova in Kurukshetra, BSF jawan Gurnam Singh and Sudesh Kumar of 6 Rajput Regiment who was killed in sniper firing on the LoC in Tarkundi area of Rajouri. (CNS)