India lodges protest over ceasefire violations in Jammu and Kashmir

JAMMU: India has lodged strong protest with Pakistan over ceasefire violations along the Line of Control and the International Border in Jammu and Kashmir in which two jawans were injured.

"We have lodged a strong protest over the firing on Indian forward post and ceasefire violation in Poonch sector with Pakistan counterparts through hot-line today", a senior Army officer told PTI.

BSF troops had also lodged a strong protest with Pakistan Rangers over the ceasefire violations along International border (IB) in Kote Kuba Border out Post (BOP) in Jammu sector, a senior BSF officer said.

In two ceasefire violations in less than 24 hours, Pakistani security personnel last night fired on Indian forward posts in separate incidents in Jammu and Kashmir injuring two BSF jawans.

Firing rockets and using small arms fire, Pakistani rangers targeted BSF's Border outpost(BOP) on the International Border(IB) in Hiranagar sector of Kathua district around 7.30 pm.

The two injured BSF jawans were evacuated to a hospital in Samba district.

Pakistan troops had opened indiscriminate firing on the forward posts along the Line of Control (LoC) in Shahpur Kerni forward belt of Poonch sector last night and it continued intermittently for few hours as Army troops also replied effectively.

A flag-meeting was held at Kote Kuba BoP along IB in which Commanding Officer (CO) 193 Battalion of BSF, Neeraj Dubey and 12-Chenab Rangers Wing Commander Kesar took part.

Pak Rangers denied their involvement in firing on Indian posts.

Pakistan Rangers had fired on Indian forward posts along IB in Kote Kuba BoP in Jammu sector on Sunday night thereby violating ceasefire between India and Pakistan applicable since 2003.