The Indian Army on Thursday said that one of its soldiers from 37 Rashtriya Rifles with weapon had inadvertently crossed over to the other side of Line of Control and termed as "completely false and baseless" reports in Pakistani media that eight of its soldiers had been killed.
An army release issued by the Defence Ministry said Pakistan had been informed on the hotline by the Director General Military Operations Lt Gen Ranbir Singh about the soldier crossing over the Line of Control.
It said that such inadvertent crossing by Army and civilians was not unusual on either side and they are are returned through existing mechanisms.
"One soldier from 37 RR with weapon has inadvertently crossed over to the other side of the Line of Control. Pakistan has been informed by the DGMO on the hotline. Such inadvertent crossing by Army and civilians are not unusual on either side. They are returned through existing mechanisms," the release said.
"As regard report of killing of eight Indian Army personnel reported in sections of Pakistan media, the report is completely false and baseless," the release added.
Dawn had quoted security sources as saying that Pakistan military had said it had captured an Indian soldier and killed eight others. Dawn later withdrew the story, replacing it with another that did not specify the number of Indian soldiers killed.
Dawn identified the soldier who crossed over as Chandu Babulal Chohan, 22, from Maharashtra. Dawn said he had been shifted to an undisclosed location.
It said the soldier was caught after the Indian military fired across the Line of Control (LoC).
Dawn said the bodies of the dead Indian soldiers lay unattended at the Line of Control (LoC), which divides Jammu and Kashmir between India and Pakistan.
India on Thursday said that it had carried out "surgical strikes" on terrorist launch pads across the LoC, inflicting massive casualties. Pakistan has denied the surgical strikes ever took place.
PAKISTAN MILITARY WEBSITE SILENT ON CROSS-BORDER INDIAN CASUALTY
Even as the Pakistani media claimed on Thursday evening that eight Indian soldiers were killed and one was captured alive in the cross-border firing, the Pakistan military's media wing has not put up any information on its website on any Indian casualty.
The Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) has put up the photos of two Pakistani soldiers killed in the cross-border strikes, claimed by India to be "surgical strikes" on terrorist launch pads in Pakistani territory.
According to the ISPR site, "Havildar Jumma Khan who embraced shahadat (martyrdom) at LoC hails from Astore. He was married, has one son and two daughters", while the other was "Naik Imtiaz who embraced shahadat at LoC today hails from Faisalabad. He was married, has 3 daughters."
Dawn, quoting security sources, said that the Pakistan military said it had captured an Indian soldier and killed eight others.
Geo News, quoting senior journalist Hamid Mir, said that 14 Indian soldiers were killed in two sectors.
The "captured" Indian soldier was identified as Chandu Babulal Chohan, 22, from Maharashtra. Dawn said he had been shifted to an undisclosed location.
The soldier was caught after the Indian military fired across the Line of Control (LoC), it said.
Dawn said the bodies of the dead Indian soldiers lay unattended at the LoC, which divides Jammu and Kashmir between India and Pakistan.
India said it had carried out "surgical strikes" on terrorist launch pads across the LoC, inflicting massive casualties. Pakistan has denied the surgical strikes ever took place.
Indian Army sources late in the evening termed as "completely false and baseless" reports of deaths of Indian soldiers in the strike.
It said that one soldier had "inadvertently crossed over" and that the Pakistan DGMO had been informed on the hotline. The soldier would be "returned through existing mechanisms", it said.
TWITTERATIS HAIL INDIAN ARMY, MODI FOR SURGICAL STRIKES
Indian Twitteratis on Thursday congratulated and thanked the Indian Army and Prime Minister Narendra Modi for conducting surgical strikes on terror camps along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir.
#ModiPunishesPak like..... #SurgicalStrike Indian Armypic.twitter.com/q6gNc8yVtH
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi177) September 29, 2016
Eleven days after terrorists killed 18 Indian soldiers in Uri, Jammu and Kashmir, Indian Special Forces targeted "some terrorist teams" positioned at launch pads on the Line of Control (LoC), leading to "significant casualties" to the terrorists and those who support them, the military said.
However, the Pakistan government denied any surgical strike by India but admitted to the death of two soldiers in cross-LoC firing by Indian troops.
Mood today home #ModiPunishesPak pic.twitter.com/hnwG1aUZeU
— Vijay (@centerofright) September 29, 2016
Following the news of surgical strikes, common people took to Twitter to share their thoughts on the same.
One user wrote that "whatever the political party you belong to, yesterday's surgical strike was apt one and support to PM Narendra Modi". Another one shared that this step by the Indian Army gives out the "clear message that India cannot tolerate any such activities".
#SurgicalStrike Offer 😛 #ModiPunishesPak pic.twitter.com/9KwtqC31rQ
— Tajinder Pal S Bagga (@TajinderBagga) September 29, 2016
Some of the users took a jibe saying that "Indian Army has started celebrating Diwali little early by bursting bombs as crackers in surgical strike".
One of them tweeted: "Thank you Indian Army for bringing Diwali a bit earlier this time. This Diwali my each and every diya will be dedicated to Uri martyrs. Jai Hind."
BREAKING:Another #SurgicalStrike By India On Pak,By Arnab @TimesNow#IndiaStrikesBack #IndianArmy #ModiPunishesPak
— Sir Ravindra Jadeja (@SirJadejaaaa) September 29, 2016
pic.twitter.com/D4FC6dPLyV
Another one wrote: "Let all Indians celebrate Diwali and Eid today and salute our army for attacking terrorist camps in PoK."
One user by the name Arsalan shared: "Great stomach shown by PM and Defence Minister to take the stand and Indian Army like always have held the tri-colour high. Surgical strike."
Coincidence :)#Indiastrikeback #ModiPunishesPak pic.twitter.com/5az2Efrir6
— Troll Cinema ( TC ) (@Troll_Cinema) September 29, 2016
While wishes poured in for the Indian Army, followers of Modi also congratulated the Prime Minister.
"Dear Narendra Modi, thank you for your action. All your words are true to the core. This is true 56 inch," one user tweeted.
As the Pakistani government has denied any surgical strike, one user said that they will "never accept it happened", adding that the Indian Army won't do this to "create a specter, trust".
Not only commoners, but celebrities like actor and BJP MP Paresh Rawal, author Chetan Bhagat, and celebrated cricketers Harbhajan Singh and Virender Sehwag have also lauded the effort made by the Indian Army.
Meanwhile Rahul Gandhi has expressed his full support for the Surgeons who seem to have gone on strike! 😂
— Paresh Rawal (@SirPareshRawal) September 29, 2016
"Hats off Indian Army...Jai Ho," tweeted Rawal. While Bhagat wrote: "Looks like we did it. Surgical strike. Salute to our army who took on a dangerous mission to make a point. Don't mess with us. Jai Hind".
Salute to Indian Army.
— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) September 29, 2016
The boys have played really well.
Jai Hind.#SurgicalStrike
Sehwag gave a salute to Indian Army and said that the "boys have played really well".
Harbhajan wrote: "Indian Army. Surgical strike."
Indian Army🙏🙏🙏🙏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏 #SurgicalStrike 💪💪💪
— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) September 29, 2016
Screenwriter Advaita Kala thanked the Indian soldiers. "While we slept in the safety of our homes, our soldiers risked their all to keep us safe. To the Indian soldier - Thank you."
Proud of our Indian Army & many Congratulations to our Indian Government for their effective steps against terrorism. #IndiaFirst #JaiHind
— Riteish Deshmukh (@Riteishd) September 29, 2016
Actor-producer Riteish Deshmukh is proud of "our Indian Army and many congratulations to our Indian government for their effective steps against terrorism."
RAJNATH SINGH ASKS PUNJAB GOVT TO EVACUATE VILLAGES NEAR BORDER
After Army confirmed surgical strikes by its forces across LoC, Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on Thursday put the entire government and political machinery in an emergency mode.
Home Minister Rajnath Singh spoke to Badal over telephone this morning to request him to immediately start the process of evacuation of the people residing in the villages falling within ten kilometres of the International border in view of the escalating situation.
While monitoring the current situation during an emergency meeting convened at his official residence, Badal directed the Chief Secretary and DGP, who were present in the meeting, to ask the concerned Deputy Commissioners (DCs) and Senior Superintendents of Police (SSPs) to oversee the entire evacuation process in the border districts of Ferozepur, Fazilka, Amritsar, Taran Tarn, Gurdaspur and Pathankot.
The chief minister directed the DCs to identify suitable location for setting up camps and ensure that none of the residents being evacuated are put to any sort of inconvenience or hardships.
Badal also directed the Chief Secretary to immediately release Rs. 1 crore each to all the Deputy Commissioners of six border districts to meet out any exigency arising out of these prevailing situation.
