Pakistan troops target border posts in Poonch; 15 ceasefire violations in 6 days

JAMMU: After overnight intermittent firing, Pakistani troops targeted Indian forward posts and hamlets along the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district with rocket projectile grenades (PRGs), mortar bombs and medium machine guns today morning.

"Pakistan troops resorted to heavy firing and mortar shelling, besides RPGs, this morning even as intermittent firing was on overnight on forward posts and civilian areas along the Line of Control (LoC) in Sabzian area of Poonch district," a defence spokesman said.

Indian forces guarding the border retaliated resulting in heavy exchange which continued till last reports came in from the area, he said, adding there was, however, no loss of life or injury to anyone in the firing.

The Sabzian sector in Poonch has been under intermittent fire from Pakistan troops for the past three days, possibly to facilitate infiltration from across the border, the spokesman said.

"Security has been beefed up along the LoC to foil any designs of militants," he said.

With today's ceasefire violation, there have been 15 such incidents in the past six days.

Yesterday, Pakistani troops resorted to intermittent firing of automatic weapons, RPGs and mortar shells along the LoC in Poonch district.

On August 5, Pakistani troops violated the ceasefire twice and targeted Indian forward posts and hamlets with RPGs, mortar shells and medium machine guns, in which three civilians including a woman were injured.

On August 4, a youth was killed and two others were injured, including a BSF jawan, when Pakistani troops violated the ceasefire by resorting to firing and mortar shelling on border out posts and hamlets along the International Border in 4 sectors of Kanachak, Pargwal, Tawi and R S Pura in Jammu district.