Indian border guards kill intruder in Indian-controlled Kashmir

SRINAGAR, Indian-controlled Kashmir, Aug. 20 (Xinhua) -- Indian border guards of Border Security Force (BSF) early Monday gunned down a suspected intruder on Indo-Pak border in Indian-controlled Kashmir, officials said.

The intruder was killed while trying to sneak inside Indian- controlled area at Pargwal sector, around 45 km northwest of Jammu city, the winter capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir.

Pakistani Rangers fired on Indian posts along Pargwal in Akhnoor sector Sunday night. Indian border guards fired in retaliation, thereby triggering an exchange between two sides.

"An intruder was gunned down by alert BSF men in the area during an exchange of fire with Pakistani troopers,"said the official.

According to India's official broadcaster-All India Radio (AIR) , the firing started around 10:00 p.m. local time on Sunday and continued until 7:00 a.m.

A ceasefire violation was also reported Sunday night along the Line-of-Control (LoC) in Krishna Ghati sector of frontier Poonch district, around 180 km southwest of Srinagar city, the summer capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir.

Indian army officials said Pakistan started the firing, which they retaliated. However in this combat no loss of life or damage to property was reported.

LoC is a de facto border dividing Kashmir into Indian and Pakistani controlled parts.

Since the beginning of this month there have been several cases of ceasefire violations on LoC and international border between India and Pakistan.

New Delhi and Islamabad in 2003 agreed to observe a ceasefire along the International Border and LoC in Kashmir. Though some violations have been reported on both sides, the ceasefire remains in effect.

Kashmir, the Himalayan region divided between India and Pakistan is claimed by both in full. Since their Independence from Britain, the two countries have fought three wars, two exclusively over Kashmir.