LoC: Pak troops breach ceasefire 5 times in Poonch, 2 women injured

Jammu: Escalating tension along the Line of Control in Jammu region, Pakistani troops breached ceasefire for the 17th day consecutive day with five violations in Poonch and Mendhar sectors leaving two civilians injured. The day began with Pakistan Army troops opening fire with small and automatic weapons on forward posts in Poonch at around 1205 hrs, defence spokesman Col RK Palta said. Indian troops retaliated, resulting in intermittent exchanges till 1600 hours, he said. 12-year-old Farzana Kouser and 55-year-old Noor Jahan sustained injuries in the firing by Pakistani troops in Kerni, Shamsher, SSP Poonch, said. Firing from Pakistani side was thereafter reported at 1730 hours till 1830 hours at Dheri Dhabsi, Nanda, Peeli, Pona pickets in Mendhar, officials said. [caption id=“attachment_1054535” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Representational Image. Reuters[/caption] At 1915 hours, Pakistani soldiers of 655 Mujahidin and 39 Baloch resorted to firing at Roshni Nalla, Gun Hill, Chajaman and 473 Post at Balnoie sector in Mankote which was followed by another violation at 2040 hours at Sona Gali, Lowara Gali, Dhiyan, Atma Post and surrounding areas of sector Mankote. Pakistani troops fired again at Kirni-1 and Kirni-2 posts after a lull at 2045 hours. Indian troops retaliated and the exchange of fire continued till nate in the night. The Pakistani troops have been daily resorting to ceasfire violations since August six when its special forces killed five Indian soldiers in Poonch. Pakistan Army had last night twice violated ceasefire by firing mortar shells at LoC posts in separate sub-sectors of Poonch district, drawing retaliation from Indian troops, Palta said. Firing on several Indian posts in Hamirpur sub-sector along the LoC started at 2130hrs last night, he said. Troops from across the LoC opened fire with automatic weapons and medium mortar shells, he said. “Our troops retaliated effectively and the exchanges continued till 2230hrs,” he added. Pakistan troops had also fired at Indian posts in the Mendhar sub-sector of Poonch at around 2230hrs. The firing there continued till 2300hrs, Palta said. “The 2003 Indo-Pak ceasefire has become meaningless. There is daily firing these days as was witnessed before 2003,” said a senior security official. The 225-km long LoC in the Poonch-Rajouri sector has been witness to daily violations of the ceasefire since 6 August. There have been over 80 ceasefire violations by Pakistani troops this year from 1 January. Defence Minister A K Antony had recently stated that the Army has been given a free hand to retaliate to deal with violations on the Line of Control.  Army Chief Gen Bikram Singh has also asked his commanders to be aggressive in case of ceasefire violations by Pakistan Army. PTI