Three Indian soldiers killed, five injured

Three soldiers of the Indian army were killed and five injured in separate incidents during heavy shelling by Pakistan along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir. The troops responded strongly to the enemy fire, said the army, alleging that Pakistan used mortars to target Indian positions.

"A befitting response is being given," the army said. The ceasefire violation started on Wednesday night as Pakistan launched unprovoked firing in the Mankote and Krishna Ghati sectors, a defense spokesperson said yesterday.

Two soldiers were killed in firing by Pakistan in the Nowgam sector of Kupwara district in North Kashmir early yesterday morning. A third soldier was killed in overnight firing in Poonch. The injured soldiers were evacuated, the spokesman said.

India is separately locked in a serious military face-off with China along the border in Ladakh that those two countries dispute.

India's defence ministry yesterday said  the government is set to upgrade its communication network for the army along the border with China as also with Pakistan at an estimated cost of Rs 7796. 39 crore, reports our New Delhi correspondent.