Pakistan violates ceasefire, resorts to shelling along LoC in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district

The Pakistani troops on Wednesday violated ceasefire by shelling and firing in forward areas along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch district, prompting the Indian Army to give a befitting response, media reports said. “Pakistan Army initiated unprovoked and indiscriminate firing of small arms, automatics and mortars from 0534 hours today (Wednesday) in Poonch sector along the Line of Control (LoC),” a defence spokesman said. He added that the Indian Army retaliated “strongly and effectively”. There had been reports of firing and shelling in Mankote sub-sector of Poonch too. The Pakistani forces had also resorted to unprovoked firing on Independence Day at two places along the LoC in Uri sector of Jammu and Kashmir. A woman was hit in one leg and an arm by the bullets fired from across the LoC. Tuesday was for the third consecutive day that Pakistani troops had violated ceasefire along the LoC in north Kashmir. It may be recalled that Pakistan violated ceasefire four times on 13 August by resorting to firing and shelling in Krishnagati, Nowshera, Mankote and north Kashmir, resulting in injuries to three Jawans.

#FLASH J&K: Ceasefire violation by Pakistan in Poonch sector along LoC. Indian army retaliating.

— ANI (@ANI) August 16, 2017

On 12 August, the neighbouring country’s troops had heavily fired on forward posts and civilian areas in Krishnagati and Poonch sectors in which a Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO) and a woman were killed. Pakistan Army’s shells exploded near a house killing 40-year-old Raqia Bi of Gohlad Kalran on 12 August. Naib Subedar Jagram Singh Tomar was also killed in Pakistani firing in Krishnagati sector on 12 August. On 8 August, Pakistan troops resorted to firing and shelling in Krishnagati sector of Poonch district, in which Sepoy Pawan Singh Sugra was grievously injured and later succumbed to his injuries. On 7 August, an army jawan was injured in a ceasefire violation by Pakistani troops along the Line of Control (LoC) in the Uri sector of Baramulla district. [caption id=“attachment_3935291” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Representational image. PTI[/caption] On 6 August, the Pakistani troops violated the ceasefire by firing at Indian posts along the Line of Control (LoC) in Baba Khori area of Rajouri district of Jammu and Kashmir. Prior to that, on 30 July, Pakistani forces had resorted to firing from light weapons and medium machine guns in the Baba Khori belt of Naushera sector. 2017 has seen a sharp increase in ceasefire violations at the LoC by Pakistan. Till 1 August, there had been 285 such violations by the Pakistan Army while in 2016, the number was significantly less at 228 for the entire year. In 2016, eight Army personnel were killed in the ceasefire violations. However this year, 11 people including nine soldiers were killed and 18 injured in ceasefire violations by Pakistan army in the month of July alone. There were 83 ceasefire violations, one BAT attack and two infiltration bids from the Pakistani side in June in which four people, including three jawans, were killed and 12 injured. In May, there were 79 ceasefire violations, according to officials. With inputs from PTI