Heavy Firing on India-Pakistan Border Leaves One Indian Soldier Dead:Police

An India's Border Security Force soldier has been killed during heavy firing on the border with Pakistan.

NEW DELHI, January 5 (Sputnik) — A member of India's Border Security Force (BSF) has been killed during a fresh violation by Pakistan of the ceasefire in the Samba Sector of India's northern Jammu and Kashmir state on Monday.

According to local police, one BSF soldier, identified as Devendra Singh, has been killed in the latest ceasefire violation.

"Firing in the border areas is on massive level. In the past few years we have not seen such heavy firing. As a precautionary measure we are shifting people to safer places," Samba Sectional Head Ravinder Singh Parihar told reporters.

India and Pakistan dispute the region of Kashmir, with central and southern areas of the region controlled by India, while Kashmir's northwest is controlled by Pakistan.

In 2003, India and Pakistan agreed to a ceasefire after a series of conflicts along the border. However, both countries have repeatedly accused each other of violating the truce.

On January 3, Indian Interior Minister Rajnath Singh called on Pakistan to put an end to violations of the ceasefire agreement, as India wanted to have "good neighborly relations" with Pakistan.

Following the exchange of fire on Friday, India's Minister of Home Affairs gave instructions to the BSF to respond "suitably and appropriately" to hostilities from Pakistan.