SRINAGAR: Pakistani troops violated border ceasefire twice and fired on Indian army posts along Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch sector of Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday, injuring an army man.
It was the 6th border ceasefire violation by Pakistani troops in first five days of this month and 250th since January 1 this year.
Defence spokesman based in Jammu Lt Col Manish Mehta said Pakistani troops breached border ceasefire early this morning and fired on Indian army posts in Krishna Ghati sector along LoC in Poonch district of Jammu province at around 7.45 am.
He said the Pakistani troops fired from small and heavy arms towards their posts. “Our men guarding the LoC also effectively returned the fire”.
Lt Col Metha said a soldier sustained minor splinter (Stone ricochet) injury in the firing incident.
He further said earlier in the night Pakistani troops had fired in Balakote sector along LoC in Poonch at around 9.30 pm last evening. “The fire was also returned by the army men and both sides exchanged heavy gun fire for some time.”
He said the guns in the sector fell silent at around 10.15 pm. “Since then there has been total calm in the sector and no firing”.
The spokesman said there was no a casualty, injuries or damage to this side in the Pakistani firing.
The Pakistani troops have been regularly firing on Indian posts along LoC and International Border (IB) during the night. Today’s ceasefire violation by Pakistani troops was the 6th such violation in first five days of this month.
On September 1 and 4, Pakistani troops had violated ceasefire along IB in RS Pura and adjoining sector and on September 2 and 3 Pakistani troops fired on army posts in different sectors of Poonch along LoC.
There was surge in ceasefire violations by Pakistani troops in August. The Pakistani troops not only fired on army posts but also targeted border areas with long range 120 mm mortar shells, which fell deep in civilian areas, causing casualties.
At least nine civilians were killed in Pakistani firing and shelling along IB and LoC in J&K in last fortnight of August.
According to officials, Pakistani troops have breached border ceasefire by over 250 times from Janauary this year.