Army pays homage to soldier killed in Kashmir

The Indian Army Wednesday paid homage to the soldier killed in Pakistani firing a day earlier even as his colleagues described him as a brave fighter.

Wreaths were laid on behalf of the Northern Army Commander at a ceremony at Rajouri to pay tributes to Lance Naik Mohd Firoz Khan of Rashtriya Rifles.

The soldier was killed following unprovoked firing by the Pakistan Army from across the Line of Control (LoC) in Bhimber Gali in Rajouri district.

Soldiers who witnessed the heavy mortar shelling by the Pakistanis Tuesday followed by heavy firing from both sides said Khan was a fearless and dedicated soldier.

"He did not falter even in the face of heavy firing while maintaining vigil on the LoC," which divides Jammu and Kashmir between Pakistan and India, a defence ministry statement quoted a soldier as saying.

Khan, 31, was a resident of Hyderabad and is survived by his wife and two children.