Pakistani Rangers violated the ceasefire by resorting to firing by small arms on Indian posts along the international border in Jammu district, prompting the Border Security Force to retaliate.
'We are caught between the devil and the deep blue sea'
This is the first such incident in Jammu region when a drone carrying arms and explosives was shot down by the BSF, frustrating Pakistan's attempt to smuggle weapons into the Union Territory using the hexacopter.
The move comes in view of rising cases of the infection, weekly positivity rates and weekly deaths in some districts.
"I have written to Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, conveying my greetings on the National Day of Pakistan," Modi tweeted.
As per reports, Pakistan has fired 3000-4000 mortar shells targeting Indian villages and border towns in which 12 people have been killed.
The blast occurred when security forces were combing some parts of Bani forest area in Kathua district.
'This is obvious to everyone except those in denial; it is a national shame.' 'To that extent, blaming any particular government is an insufficient response,' argues Mihir S Sharma.
Dar, posted in Budgam district, was undergoing training in Kathua district in Jammu region of the state.
What the election demonstrated is that the BJP has a stranglehold on most of the Hindu votes in the Union territory, observes David Devadas.
Asking them to learn lessons from past incidents, former chief minister Omar Abdullah on Friday said the Border Security Force should try to plug holes in the border as militants were "repeatedly" using routes like nullahs or riverine areas to carry out attacks.
Santosh Gangwar said that a hue and cry should not be created if one or two such incidents rake up in a big country like India.
Shelling and firing by Pakistani troops was "very heavy" in 2018, virtually making the 2003 India-Pakistan border truce "redundant", said officials.
The announcement by India and Pakistan to strictly observe all agreements on ceasefire along the Line of Control (LoC) and other sectors has rekindled hope for a peaceful future among border residents in Jammu and Kashmir who have been living under constant fear of firing and shelling.
He said the BAJ had told the media repeatedly that Wednesday's bandh was not on the Kathua rape-and-murder issue as the case is in court now.
'They have no other agenda, but to perpetuate hate.' 'They have destroyed the economy and polity and they survive only on hate.' 'They think through hatred, they can mobilise the large chunk of Hindu votes.'
Union health minister, Ghulam Nabi Azad on Tuesday filed his nomination papers for the Udhampur-Doda parliamentary constituency.
BSF troops guarding over 180 km of IB with Pakistan have strengthened their observation posts and 'listening posts' to keep a close watch against any intrusion by drones.
Over one lakh people have migrated from their hamlets and border towns in the wake of firing by Pakistan.
A lesser-known militant outfit 'Shohada Brigade' on Thursday claimed responsibility for the twin attacks in Jammu region which left eight persons, including a Lt Colonel of the army, dead.
With this, the number of ceasefire violations along the IB and the LoC in the state after surgical strikes by the Indian Army in PoK has risen to 31.
Kher reportedly had earlier said that all the issues in the valley will be resolved if Article 370, which provides special autonomous status to Jammu and Kashmir is abolished.
The latest shelling from across the border started in the Qasba and Kirni sectors along the LoC in Poonch district at 1.40 pm, prompting a befitting retaliation by the Indian Army, a defence spokesperson said.
In a statement, the ministry of home affairs said the UT of Ladakh consists of two districts of Kargil and Leh while the rest of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir is in the UT of Jammu and Kashmir.
Pakistani troops targeted over 60 hamlets and scores of border posts in heavy overnight shelling in Kathua and Samba districts, with mortar bombs landing deep inside Indian territory.
'The larger narrative doing the rounds was anti-Hindu, anti-India.' 'Despite the affinity, one could feel the lurking hostility.'
The situation in the entire Jammu city and adjoining towns continued to be tense, even as the authorities extended curfew to Kathua district on the Pathankote Jammu national highway following largescale violence in the town. Contingents of Rapid Action Force were airlifted from outside the state and reached winter capital Jammu on Thursday.
The first batch of Amarnath yatris from outside the state was welcomed on Wednesday by the police and civil administration amid tight security arrangements at Lakhanpur, the gateway to Jammu and Kashmir.
Lal Singh has alleged that Kashmiri journalists have created "an erroneous atmosphere"
Senior government sources said the charge of carrying out a Pulwama scale terror attack bigger was given to the Jaish-e-Mohammed headed by Maulana Masood Azhar by Pakistan Army's Inter-Services Intelligence.
Stepping up ceasefire violations, Pakistan on Friday resorted to heavy mortar shelling and firing on several BSF posts along the Indo-Pak border in Samba and Kathua districts of Jammu and Kashmir, drawing a strong retaliation from India which killed two Pakistan Rangers.
'What if this was my child?' 'My 3 year old, my 8 year old, my 17 year old?' Would I be insular, silent?' 'Would I protect those who I so actively protect now?' asks Preeti D'Mello.
Curfew was lifted in Kathua and Samba towns in Jammu on Tuesday following the return of normalcy in the areas that were rocked by violence over the Amarnath land row.
BSF constable Nitin Subhash Koli sustained grievous injuries on Friday evening when an explosion inside the chamber of the long range weapon led to a recoil while he was firing.
Pakistan should control terrorism if it wants peace and reconciliation, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Sayeed said.
Earlier in the day protesters defied curfew in Udhampur in Jammu region, hit by violence over the Amarnath land row, even as life in Kashmir valley remained paralysed for third consecutive day following a strike call given by a separatist group.
A top police official said that Pakistan is trying to infiltrate terrorists along the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir even during the winters when most of the passes and mountainous areas along the border are covered in heavy snow.
Shailajanand Mishra lists The Top Videos of the Week.
Pakistani Rangers and BSF troops exchanged fire along the International Border in Samba sector of Jammu and Kashmir, a senior BSF officer said.
Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Odisha and Karnataka had the most number of minor rape victims in 2016.
