IAF Sergeant, BSF Sub-Inspector martyred in cross-border firing in Jammu

New Delhi: Two personnel from the Indian Armed Forces lost their lives in the past 24 hours—an Indian Air Force officer and a BSF sub-inspector—while seven others from the BSF unit sustained injuries as Pakistani forces intensified shelling and drone attacks across the Jammu region.

Sergeant Surendra Kumar Moga, a 36-year-old medical assistant with IAF's 36 Wing, was killed in a Pakistani strike while stationed in J&K's Udhampur.

Previously posted in Bengaluru, he had been redeployed to Udhampur just four days ago amid rising tensions with Pakistan.

Moga's family in Mehradasi village of Rajasthan's Jhunjhunu was informed on Saturday.

He is survived by his 65-year-old mother, Nanu Devi, wife Seema, and two children.

Villagers gathered to mourn as preparations began for a state funeral.

Jhunjhunu District Collector, Ramavatar Meena, said, "Surendra Kumar Moga had been posted at the 39th wing of the IAF at the Udhampur airbase. He was killed during a Pakistani attack early Saturday morning at the airbase. Upon receiving the information in the morning, the district police superintendent Sharad Chaudhary and I visited his family and informed them about the news."

District Collector Meena said that Moga's body will be brought to Jhunjhunu by Sunday evening.

Sub-Inspector Mohammed Imtiaz lost his life when his BSF unit, stationed along the International Border in the RS Pura sector, came under intense Pakistani fire.

"He, along with seven others, was wounded. While Imtiaz succumbed to his injuries, the others are stable and receiving treatment at a health facility," a BSF official stated.

Subedar Major Pawan Kumar, a JCO from Himachal, was killed on Saturday morning when an artillery shell detonated near his post in Krishna Ghati sector of Poonch.

Rifleman Sunil Kumar, 25, of J&K Light Infantry, died from injuries sustained during overnight gunfire and shelling in the RS Pura sector.

India and Pakistan have agreed to a ceasefire, with Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri announcing that the Directors General of military operations of both countries had decided to stop all firings and military action on land, air and sea with effect from 5 p.m. on Saturday.

India said late Saturday that Pakistan violated the understanding reached between DGMOs of the two countries earlier in the day on the stoppage of firing and military action and that the Indian Army is retaliating and dealing with the border intrusions.

At a special briefing, Foreign Secretary Misri said this is a breach of the understanding arrived at earlier on Saturday afternoon, and India takes "very serious note of these violations".

India called upon Pakistan to take appropriate steps to address these violations and deal with the situation with seriousness and responsibility.

The Foreign Secretary said India's Armed Forces have been given instructions to deal strongly with any instances of repetition of the violations of the border along the International Border as well as the Line of Control.

The Army, he said, is keeping a close watch on the situation and has been instructed to take firm and strong measures to deal with any incursion.

(inputs from PTI)