CHIRI KOT (Forward LoC), Feb 2: Around 114 Indian soldiers have been killed in retaliatory fire by the Pakistani troops in Poonch sector across the Line of Control over the last two months, a senior officer of Pakistan Army said.

A major casualty was caused to the Indian troops when an ordnance depot at Jalas Cantt, near Poonch town, was targeted by Pakistani troops from the Rawlakot sector.

The enemy suffered loss of arms and its ammunition dump was destroyed by the attack, said Brig Mumtaz Ahmed Bajwa, Sector Commander Rawlakot at a press briefing on Friday.

There were confirmed reports of 87 Indian soldiers having been killed and scores of others injured as a result of the attack.

He said this attack was in retaliation of the indiscriminate fire from across the LoC on civilian population in mid-December.

During January, 2002, he said 27 other Indian soldiers were killed in different incidents of retaliatory fire by Pakistani troops.

On Pakistan side, the Brigade Commander said, during the last two months, 11 persons embraced martyrdom, including one soldier of Pakistan Army. Twenty-nine civilians and 10 soldiers sustained injuries due to the unprovoked fire from across the LoC.

He said around 12 major violations of LoC by the Indian troops had been recorded by the United Nations Observers Military Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) while a number of other minor violations had also occurred.

He said firing with light and medium calibre artillery and rockets had been common in recent days and a notable escalation in their trend could be noticed whenever Pakistan started diplomatic moves to seek the solution of the longstanding issue of Kashmir.

He said soft targets, like civilian population and civic installations, were hit by the unprovoked firing by the Indian army.

When invited to comment on the morale of Indian troops, he said the reports, besides the reconnaissance monitoring, had revealed that they were in the worst state. He quoted a message monitored from the wireless that said: “They are targeting us and showering bullets on our heads and our survival is at stake.”

The other side responded: “You open fire on the village.” “Sir, due to the attack, the other side has started retaliatory fire which is on target. Please, save us from this Musibat (misfortune),” the caller said.

On Pakistan side, the brigade was fully prepared and ready to defend the motherland and any misadventure would cost the enemy much beyond its imagination, he said.

When the visiting team of journalists talked to the troops deployed in various bunkers on the forward posts, they said: “Our morale is very high and we are fully prepared to defend every inch of our motherland.”

Various villagers, when asked to comment on the situation, fully backed the Pakistani troops, saying “we fully support and have confidence in the ability of Pakistani troops who are fully devoted and ready to sacrifice their lives.”

However, they were critical of the indifferent attitude of the civil administration and complained that they hardly turned up in their hour of trial. They said: “Only Pakistani troops come to their help but never the civil administration.” —APP