Hundreds pay tributes as BSF jawan killed in Pak shelling cremated in Kurukshetra

Border Security Force (BSF) head constable Sushil Kumar, who was killed in Pakistani shelling while on duty along the International Border, was cremated in his hometown Kurukshetra on Tuesday.

Kumar and one of his colleagues had sustained injuries during the ceasefire violation by the Pakistani troops on Sunday in RS Pura sector of Jammu and Kashmir.

Kumar succumbed to his injuries at Government Medical College in Jammu, while the other soldier is still undergoing treatment. 
Hundreds of residents joined the slain soldier in his final journey. Shops across the city remained shut as a tribute to Kumar.

The BSS too paid tributes to Kumar. A wreath-laying ceremony was organised at the Jammu frontier BSF camp at Paloura where rich tributes were paid to the slain soldier. 

Director general, BSF, KK Sharma specially came from Delhi. Arun Kumar, ADG, BSF Western Command, Chandigarh, Rajeev Krishna, IG (Operation), DK Upadhyay, IG, BSF, Jammu, Pawan Kotwal, Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, IG, Jammu Police, Danish Rana, the CRPF DIG, along with BSF officers and jawans paid floral tributes to the martyr at the Frontier Headquarters in Jammu.

India and Pakistan have been at odds over the Kashmir issue ever since their independence, fighting two of their three wars over the Himalayan region. 

Tensions have escalated sharply between New Delhi and Islamabad following the surgical strikes carried out by the Indian Army to destroy terrorist launch pads along the Line of Control and inflicted significant casualties. Pakistan has denied such a strike had taken place but vowed to retaliate against any Indian aggression. 

The raid by the army was a direct response to a militant attack on an army camp in Uri that left 19 soldiers dead.

(With inputs from agencies)