'India will continue to give befitting reply to Pakistan'

India will continue to give a "befitting reply" to Pakistan's actions along the borders, Vice Chief of Indian Army Lt Gen Sarath Chand said on Monday, a day after three soldiers and an officer lost their lives in a LOC ceasefire violation.

Asked about the ceasefire violations, he said the Indian Army's actions will speak for itself.

"That (retaliation) goes without saying. I think I don't have to say that. (Our) action will speak for itself," Lt Gen Chand said on the sidelines of an event here.

"We will continue with our process of giving a befitting reply..."

Chand said the Indian Army has been "responding appropriately".

Four Indian soldiers, including a 22-year-old Captain, were killed and four other persons injured on Sunday in Pakistani firing on the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir's Rajouri district.

About the incident, the Vice Chief of Army Staff said: "There has been cross-border shelling from their (Pakistan's) side. And one of the shells landed near the officer and his men, leading to the casualties."

Those who died included Captain Kapil Kundu, who would have celebrated his 23rd birthday on February 10. Captain Kundu hailed from Gurugram district of Haryana and is survived by his mother Sunita.

The other martyrs were Rifleman Ramavatar, 27, from Baraka village in Gwalior in Madhya Pradesh, Rifleman Subham Singh, 23, from Kathua in Jammu and Kashmir and Havilder Roshan Lal, 43, of Samba district of Jammu and Kashmir.

In a statement on Sunday, the Indian Army said: "The martyrdom of Indian Army soldiers will not go in vain. The unprovoked action by the Pakistani Army will be given a befitting response."

The statement also said that heavy damage was inflicted on a Pakistani post in retaliatory action.

--IANS

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