Srinagar: In a major violation of the five-year-old ceasefire along the Line of Control (LoC), 15 Pakistani troops yesterday crossed into Indian territory and opened fire in the Kupwara sector killing an Indian jawan after which Indian forces returned the fire driving the intruders back and reportedly killing four of them.

The intermittent exchange of fire continued till late night nearly six hours after the incident which took place around 3.30 pm when the Pakistanis crossed the LoC objecting to the construction of an observation post along the LoC. The ceasefire came into force in November 2003.

There were reports that four Pakistanis were killed in the retaliatory fire, but there was
no official confirmation.

Defence sources said the Pakistani troops crossed the LoC, came to the barbed wire fence and asked the Indian troops to vacate the observation post. This led to a war of words between the two sides. That's when a Pakistani trooper fired at the observation
post indiscriminately on Indian positions located in the Khayan area of Nowgam sector.

An Indian jawan, who was hit by a bullet, fell into a nullah. The jawan belonged to the 22 Rajput Regiment.

The intrusion was retaliated by the Indian Army personnel with small arms fire and pushed the Pakistani troops back to the other side of the LoC, the sources said.

India has called for a flag meeting with the Pakistan army at the battalion level to sort out the issue.

This is the first time that Pakistani troops have resorted to such an act ever since the two sides had announced the  ceasefire.

Since the beginning of this year, there have been more than half a dozen violations of the ceasefire all across the International Border and the LoC in Tanghdar, Rajouri and Poonch.