Two Maharashtra soldiers killed by Pakistan s BAT; two militants killed on LoC (Second Lead)

Jammu/Mumbai June 22 (IANS) Two Indian Army soldiers hailing from Maharashtra were killed by a Pakistani BAT team on Thursday on the LoC in Chakan da Bagh sector in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir while two militants were killed in the sector during a foiled infiltration bid.

Pakistan s Border Action Teams (BAT) comprise heavily armed terrorists and are supported by the country s army. The BAT teams cross into the Indian side of the LoC while Pakistan Army engages the Indian troops in cross-border firing to facilitate BAT actions.

The Indian and Pakistani troops on Thursday traded heavy gunfire after the Pakistan Army indulged in heavy shelling and firing on Indian positions on the Line of Control in Chakan da Bagh sector.

The deceased soldiers were identified as Naik Jadhav Sandip Sarjerao 35 of Aurangabad and Sepoy Mane Savan Balku 25 of Kolhapur a defence spokesperson said in Mumbai late on Thursday.

They were in army service for 15 and four years respectively and further details of when their bodies will be sent home were awaited.

Defence Ministry sources said the Pakistan Army indulged in unprovoked firing and shelling at Indian positions with small arms automatics and mortars. Indian troops effectively retaliated.

On May 1 an Indian soldier and a BSF trooper were killed and their bodies mutilated near the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir in an action which the Indian Army said was carried out by a Pakistani BAT team inside Indian territory.

The dead were Naib Subedar Paramjit Singh of 22 Sikh Regiment and Head Constable Prem Sagar of the Border Security Force.

--IANS
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