Five Indian soldiers, including a Subedar and four jawans of 21 Bihar Regiment were killed and one injured in the incident. The incident comes after few days when on July 27 a BSF jawan was injured in firing by Pakistan violating the ceasefire in Samba district in Jammu and Kashmir.

According to Army sources the ambush was carried out by approximately 20 heavily armed terrorists alongwith soldiers of Pakistan Army.

“We strongly condemn this unprovoked incident. Government of India has lodged a strong protest with Government of Pakistan through diplomatic channels. I assure the House that our Army is fully ready to take all necessary steps to uphold the sanctity of LoC. Government of India conveys its condolences to the families of the martyrs who made the supreme sacrifice in the line of duty,” said the Indian Defence Minister AK Antony in Parliament.

Indian Army Chief Gen Bikram Singh was taking stock of the situation in New Delhi, with the Indian DGMO being asked to lodge a strong protest with his Pakistani counterpart over the hotline.

The issue rocked the Parliament with members in both Houses demanding a strong response from the Government and Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh.

Samajwadi Party leader Mulayam Singh Yadav demanded that the Government inform Parliament about the steps it was taking to stop repeated intrusions across the border by China and killings of Indian soldiers by Pakistan. Yadav and party MP Shailendra Kumar had moved an adjournment motion on the issue.

The Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif are also slated to meet in New York next month on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly session.

The Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Arun Jaitley, said the incident has serious defence, security and foreign policy implications. BJP spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad said government should come out with a clear-cut and firm response to the latest Pakistani attack which has become a weekly affair. Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi accused the government of laxity in securing Indian borders. Gurudas Dasgupta of CPI said government should take up the issue strongly with Pakistan.

Indian Army in a press release claimed : “this action is a likely consequence of frustrations of the terrorists’ tanzeeems and Pakistan Army due to successful elimination of 19 hardcore terrorists in the recent months of July and August along the LoC and in the hinterland of Jammu and Kashmir. The effective counter infiltration grid on the LoC has ensured 17infiltration bids foiled this year resulting in killing of a total of 13hardcore Pakistan trained terrorists. The number of such attempts has doubled this year in comparison to the corresponding period of 2012. Pakistan Army’s desparation is also evident in the substantial increase in the number of ceasefire violations this year. There have been 57 ceasefire violations this year which is almost 80% more than the violations last year.”

Beginning this year on January 8, Pakistan Army lilled two Indian soldiers, beheading one in an attack. On July 3, Pakistani forces fired on Indian cops in Sabzian who had gone to collect the body of a Pakistani intruder killed in IED blast in July 1. On July 8, Pakistani troops fired on Indian soldiers evacuating injured porters in IED attack by Pakistan based militants in Poonch. On July 12, Pakistan rangers fired on Indian forward posts in in Pindi belt along international border in Jammu. On July 22, Pakistani troops fired at Indian posts in forward area along LoC in Poonch. On July 27/28, Pakistani troops fired at Indian positions in Hiranagar sector in Kathua district of Jammu, a BSF trooper was injured.

Pakistani troops targeted Indian posts by firing RPGs, heavy machine guns along LoC in Doda Battalion forward area in Poonch. No casualties were, however, reported.

On August 5, Pakistani troops fired at Indian troops at Chakan Da Baug area of Poonch sector and killed five jawans.

In the year 2012, there were 71 incidents of cross-border firing and ceasefire violations by Pakistan along LoC. At least 7 persons including 5 security personnel were killed and 15 injured.

In 2011 there were 51 cases of cross-border firing and ceasefire violations by Pakistan along LoC in Jammu and Kashmir.

In 2010 there were 44 cases of ceasefire violations by Pakistan along LoC in Jammu and Kashmir.

In 2009 there were 28 cases of ceasefire violations by Pakistan.